Kremlin secures military presence at key bases in Syria under new power-sharing deal

Russia isn’t leaving Syria. It’s just getting a smaller room in the house. Syria’s Foreign Ministry announced a Memorandum of Understanding on August 9 that formally restructures Russia’s military footprint at two of its most strategically important overseas installations: the Hmeimim air base near Latakia and the Tartus naval facility on the Mediterranean coast. The deal, reached after 18 months of back-and-forth between Moscow and Damascus, converts what was once exclusive Russian military territory into a shared arrangement with Syria’s new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. What the deal actually changes The terms split the facilities into two categories. Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartus will transfer to Syrian civilian authorities. The remaining military infrastructure at both sites will be repurposed as joint training and capacity-building centers operated by both countries. A three-month transition window will govern the handover of civilian facilities to Syrian control. How Syria got here The agreement is a direct consequence of the political upheaval that reshaped Syria in late 2024. Rebels led by al-Sharaa ousted longtime President Bashar al-Ass...