Russian diplomats make first visit to Syria since al-Assad’s overthrow

Al-Assad, a close ally of Moscow, sought refuge in Russia in December, following a lightning offensive by opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The delegation includes Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian president’s special envoy for Syria, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

The delegation is expected to meet with Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as the foreign minister.

The visit comes as Moscow seeks to secure the fate of two military bases in Syria, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial that Moscow had suffered a strategic “defeat” in the Middle East after al-Assad’s fall.

Russia is now focused on securing the future of its naval base in Tartous and its airbase at Khmeimim—both on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and Moscow’s only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union—with the new Syrian leaders.

Russia’s military intervention in support of al-Assad played a pivotal role in reversing the course of Syria’s more-than-13-year war. Moscow was one of al-Assad’s key backers, intervening in the war in 2015 in his favour.

Although Syria’s new de facto government has not severed ties with Moscow or demanded the complete withdrawal of Russian military forces from their bases, Al Watan reported earlier this month that a contract with a Russian company to manage the port in Tartous had been cancelled.

Following al-Assad’s fall, Russia repositioned its troops and assets from across Syria to its main base near Latakia. There has been no indication that Moscow is preparing to evacuate the Khmeimim base or the naval facility in Tartous.

The cancellation of the contract to modernise the Tartous commercial port has not affected the Russian naval facility, which operates under a separate lease agreement.

The Russian delegation’s visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity by the new rulers, aimed at building ties and easing sanctions.

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin easing sanctions on Syria starting with key sectors, such as energy.