Syria-Russia ties entering ‘new stage’ as foreign ministers meet in Moscow

Syria-Russia relations are entering a new era based on mutual respect after Syria’s foreign and defence ministers met Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister in Moscow, state media in both countries reported.

“Today, the Russia-Syria relations enter a new stage,” Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Wednesday during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s TASS news agency reported.

“We continue the reconstruction in Syria with strong national will, and we aspire for balanced relations with all countries,” al-Shaibani added, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Damascus has managed to achieve successes in various fields over the past year, al-Shaibani reportedly said in the meeting. “First and foremost, this year marked the end of a 14-year war. The biggest success we’ve achieved is lifting sanctions from Syria. We are now busy reconstructing the country.”

Al-Shaibani added that efforts are under way to attract investments to Syria to improve the economic situation, SANA said.

Lavrov, meanwhile, emphasised the importance of maintaining Syria’s territorial unity and enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the news agency added.

On Tuesday, President Putin met with al-Shaibani and Syrian Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra, SANA reported, in talks focused on political, economic and military issues of “mutual interest”, with “particular emphasis” on defence.

According to SANA, Putin and the Syrian ministers discussed a range of defence-related matters, including developing military cooperation to strengthen the Syrian army’s capabilities, ‌modernising its equipment, transferring expertise and cooperating in research and development.

“During the meeting, both sides reviewed ways to advance military and technical partnership in a manner that strengthens the defensive capabilities of the Syrian Arab Army and keeps pace with modern developments in military industries,” SANA reported.

The two sides also discussed political and economic issues, including the “importance of continued political and diplomatic coordination between Damascus and Moscow in international forums”, according to the news agency.

On the economic front, the talks addressed expanding Syrian-Russian cooperation, including in reconstruction projects, infrastructure development and investment in Syria.

Putin also reaffirmed Russian “steadfast support” for Syria and its territorial integrity, while renewing “Moscow’s condemnation of repeated Israeli violations of Syrian territory, describing them as a direct threat to regional security and stability”.

The ministers’ visit to Moscow is the latest by Syria’s new authorities since the removal from power last December of the country’s longtime ruler and Moscow’s former ally in Damascus, Bashar al-Assad.

Russia was a key supporter of al-Assad during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, providing vital military aid that kept his regime in power, including Russian support that rained air raids on rebel-held areas.

Despite al-Assad and his family fleeing to Russia after the toppling of his regime, Moscow is eager to build good relations with the new government in Damascus.

In particular, Moscow is hoping to secure agreements to continue operating the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartous naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, where Russian forces continue to be present.

In October, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visited Russia, where he said his government ‍would honour all the past deals struck between Damascus and Moscow, a pledge that suggested that the two Russian military bases were secure in the post-Assad period.

Putin said ‍at the time of al-Sharaa’s visit ⁠that Moscow was ready to do all it could to act on what he called the “many interesting and useful beginnings” discussed by the two sides on renewing relations.

During a visit to Moscow in July, al-Shaibani said his country wanted Russia “by our side”.

“The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path,” al-Shaibani told Lavrov at the time.