Russia and Syria agree to turn Russian military bases into joint training centers

Syria and Russia have restructured Moscow's military presence, Meduza reports. Under a memorandum concluded after a year and a half of negotiations, Syria gains civilian control of Hmeimim airport and a commercial pier at Tartus, while Russian military bases become joint training centers. The transition completes within three months. The agreement's significance lies in the context: it follows Bashar al-Assad's overthrow, yet Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged to Putin in October 2025 that his country would honor all existing agreements with Russia, and this restructuring demonstrates how Moscow is preserving its regional foothold.

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