The go to comes as Moscow seeks to safe the destiny of two navy bases in Syria.
A delegation of Russian officers has arrived in Damascus on the primary such go to since Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition fighters.
Al-Assad, a detailed 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 consists of Russian Deputy International Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian president’s particular envoy for Syria, the Russian state information company RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.
The delegation is anticipated to fulfill with Syria’s de facto chief, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in addition to the international minister.
The go to comes as Moscow seeks to safe the destiny of two navy bases in Syria, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial that Moscow had suffered a strategic “defeat” within the Center East after al-Assad’s fall.
Russia is now centered on securing the way forward for its naval base in Tartous and its airbase at Khmeimim—each on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and Moscow’s solely navy outposts exterior the previous Soviet Union—with the brand new Syrian leaders.
Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid mentioned the talks would doubtless cowl potential plans for assist, meals imports and the way forward for the navy bases.
“It’s extraordinary that simply six weeks in the past these two sides had been enemies, they had been foes. 1000’s if not a whole bunch of hundreds of assaults have been carried out between the 2 of them, and now the group that isn’t accountable for Syria is now throughout the desk with them,” he mentioned.
“They will be discussing future prospects of assist, bringing wheat into Syria, and the way forward for these bases, each naval and air,” Bin Javaid added.
Russia’s aggressive navy intervention in help of al-Assad performed a pivotal function in reversing the course of Syria’s more-than-13-year civil battle. Moscow was one in every of al-Assad’s key backers, intervening within the battle in 2015 in his favour.
Though Syria’s new de facto authorities has not severed ties with Moscow or demanded the whole withdrawal of Russian navy forces from their bases, Al Watan reported earlier this month {that a} contract with a Russian firm to handle the port in Tartous had been cancelled.
Following al-Assad’s fall, Russia repositioned its troops and belongings from throughout Syria to its most important base close to Latakia. There was no indication that Moscow is making ready to evacuate the Khmeimim base or the naval facility in Tartous.
The cancellation of the contract to modernise the Tartous business port has not affected the Russian naval facility, which operates beneath a separate lease settlement.
The Russian delegation’s go to comes amid a flurry of diplomatic exercise by the brand new rulers, aimed toward constructing ties and easing sanctions.
European Union international ministers on Monday agreed to start easing sanctions on Syria beginning with key sectors, reminiscent of vitality.
Saudi Arabia’s high diplomat, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was acquired by al-Sharaa on Friday, making his first go to since al-Assad’s overthrow.