Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)
The defense minister in the interim government of Syria, Murhaf Abu Qasra, discussed a number of common military issues with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov, the Syrian Defense Ministry announced.
Abu Qasra arrived in Moscow on July 31 as part of a delegation led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. This is the first official visit by representatives of the new Syrian government to Russia.
In a statement, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said that Abu Qasra was accompanied at the meeting by Shaibani and the head of the General Intelligence Directorate Hussein Salama.
“During the meeting, they discussed a number of common military issues that serve the interests of Syrian-Russian relations,” the ministry added.
A separate statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the two sides “discussed prospects of cooperation between the defence departments and the situation in the Middle East.”
Russia maintains two military installations on the Syrian coast, which is controlled by the government: the Khemimim Air Base near the city of Jableh and a naval base in the port of Tartus. Following the fall of the Assad regime last December, the government showed openness to keeping both bases open.
While in Moscow, Shaibani held a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the meeting as “historic”, saying in a statement that it ushered a new phase of political and military understanding between the two countries.
“Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani affirmed Syria’s commitment to improving relations with Russia on new foundations that take into account the interests of the Syrian people and open up prospects for a balanced partnership,” the ministry said.
“The meeting represents a strong political indicator of the beginning of a process to restore Syrian-Russian relations, enhancing regional balance and empowering the Syrian state,” it added.
While Russian bases in Syria continue to operate as before, the two sides have not yet announced an agreement on their future.
Still, Syria appears to be very interested in military cooperation with Russia. Last April, interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is expected to attend a Russian-Arab summit in Moscow next October, said that Russia had supplied the Syrian military for decades, implying that his country will not abandon its historic military ties with Russia.
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