World News
Putin and Syrian leader al-Sharaa discuss bilateral relations and military bases
The Russian and Syrian leaders held a call following an agreement to reorganize Russian military installations into joint training centers.
The short version
- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa discussed bilateral relations and the future of Russian military bases in Syria during a telephone call.
- The discussions follow an August 9 Memorandum of Understanding to convert the Khmeimim airbase and Tartous naval facility into joint training and capacity-building centers.
- Under the agreement reached after 18 months of negotiations, Syria will assume control of civilian facilities at both locations.
- Putin reaffirmed support for Syria's territorial integrity and rejected Israeli military actions violating Syrian sovereignty.
Key facts
- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke by phone on Wednesday to discuss trade, bilateral relations, and Russian military bases.[Al Jazeera]
- The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 9 regarding the reorganization of the Khmeimim airbase and Tartous naval base.[Al Jazeera]
- The deal followed 18 months of negotiations and mandates that the installations become joint training and capacity-building centers, with civilian facilities transferred to Syrian control.[Al Jazeera]
- Putin stated support for Syria's territorial integrity and condemned Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- The exact timeline and operational details for transferring civilian facilities and transitioning the bases into joint training centers have not been specified.[Al Jazeera]