Al-Sharaa meets Putin as Russia seeks to secure military bases in Syria

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is meeting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow as the latter seeks to secure a military presence in the country following the toppling of former Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed ahead of Wednesday’s meeting that talks would focus on “the presence of our soldiers in Syria”, who are located at the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.

Earlier this week, the Kremlin reportedly withdrew its forces from the Qamishli airport in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, leaving it with only its two Mediterranean bases – now its only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union.

Moscow has been working to build relations with al-Sharaa since his rebel forces toppled longtime ruler al-Assad in December 2024, aiming to ensure its continued military presence in the country, which serves to bolster its influence in the Middle East.