Longtime foes, Putin and Sharaa, meet in Moscow

On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, Russia. The two men have long fought one another and have been in opposing camps during the 14-year Syrian civil war. Russia has stood with the Assad regime (a longtime ally of Moscow since the Soviet Union) and bombarded opposition areas held by groups such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which Sharaa led. Today, as the two leaders meet face-to-face, a new pragmatic relationship with the interim government in Syria seems to emerge.

Keeping past deals and redefining relations

During their talks, Sharaa confirmed that he would honor all past deals made between his country and Russia, referring especially to the safety of the latter two strategic military bases: the Hmeimim Airbase near Latakia and the Tartous Naval Base (which is Russia’s only naval base in the Mediterranean Sea). Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously claimed on Monday that Moscow believed Damascus wanted the military bases to stay and spoke about using them as logistics hubs to get aid to Africa (instead of a base to rearm remnants of the ousted regime’s forces, which Syria seeks guarantees from Russia).

Moscow views these bases as vital strategic outposts for its influence abroad. They allow it to project power in the Middle East, secure strategic interests, maintain geopolitical influence in the region (as well as its ambitions in Africa and the Sahel) and challenge Western dominance in a volatile part of the world.

Sharaa’s assurance came as he said that “we are working on redefining the nature of relations with Russia.” Likewise, Putin praised the historic links between Moscow and Damascus, and he voiced hope for their expansion. He claimed that his country was ready to do all it could to act on what he called “many interesting and useful beginning.”

Promising projects and partnership

Two fields of partnership have been discussed during the unprecedented visit.

The first relates to oil projects. Following the lengthy talks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that “Russian companies have been working in Syria for a long time, at oil fields. There are fields that require development, those that are mothballed, and new fields. We are ready to participate.” Moscow has also reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria.

Another crucial partnership includes possible Russian assistance in rebuilding the Syrian army. Moscow could, particularly, provide Damascus with essential air power, after Israel destroyed most of its capabilities.

However, it remains unclear how the United States would view such rapprochement. Syria’s opening to Russia could hinder and limit Washinton’s influence, as Damascus manages to diversify its partnerships. Additionally, rebuilding and strengthening the Syrian army, especially in terms of areal capabilities, could pose a threat to Israel’s military advantage in the region. This comes in line with the 2008 US QME Act, which claimed that the United States must ensure that any sale or export of defense articles or defense services to countries in the Middle East region does not in any way adversely affect Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME).

Assad’s destiny left unsolved

Since Bashar al-Assad (the ousted Syrian president) fled the country in early December 2024, Russia has granted him and his family asylum. Lavrov claimed that this decision was taken on humanitarian grounds, as they faced “physical extermination.”

Two Syrian sources told Reuters that Sharaa would use the talks to formally request that Moscow hand over Assad to face trial over alleged crimes against Syrians. This stance was reiterated by Sharaa himself in a recent interview with the CBS News show “60 Minutes”, claiming that the Syrian authorities “will use all available legal means” to prosecute Assad for his alleged crimes.

However, Russia remains committed towards not handing over its foreign ally, something that it prides itself about.