The Russian “TASS” agency reported on Wednesday that Moscow is holding talks with the new Syrian authorities regarding the future of its military bases.
The agency indicated that the two parties have not yet reached an agreement on this file, while the talks are continuing.
Last December, TASS reported – citing a diplomatic source – that Russia was seeking to maintain the legal status of its bases in Hmeimim and Tartous in Syria.
She added that discussions with the new Syrian authorities focus on ensuring that military actions and regime change are not considered a reason for terminating long-term agreements on those bases.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also stated, in previous statements, that his country had not received any requests from Damascus regarding reviewing the agreements on Russian military bases in Syria.
Moscow has established military bases in Syria over the past years, including the Hmeimim and Tartous bases, which are considered two main pillars of the Russian military presence in the Mediterranean and Africa.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria raised major questions about the future of Russian military bases, especially since the regime was a major ally of Moscow.