Russia and Syria agree to turn Russian military bases into joint training centers
Syria and Russia have signed a memorandum reorganizing Russia’s military presence in the country, the Syrian news agency SANA reported, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry.
Russia and Syria have reached an agreement to transform Russian military bases in the country into joint training centers, according to a memorandum signed by the two nations, as reported by Syria's state-run news agency SANA. The agreement allows Syria to assume civilian control of key facilities while Russian military bases are repurposed for joint training purposes that consider the interests of both countries.
Damascus will take over the administration of Hmeimim airport and the fourth commercial pier at the port of Tartus, gradually integrating these assets into the country's civilian infrastructure. The transition to joint training centers is expected to begin within a three-month window following the agreement's implementation, which came after a year and a half of negotiations between the Syrian and Russian governments.
Russia currently maintains control of the Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and a naval logistics support point in Tartus. The agreement comes amid uncertainty over Russia's cooperation with Syria's new authorities following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, a staunch ally of Moscow. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Moscow in October 2025 to meet with President Vladimir Putin, pledging that Syria's new leaders would uphold all previous agreements with Russia.
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