Lavrov: Putin and Ahmad al-Shar`a Discussed Russian Military Bases in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today, Thursday, that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Shar`a discussed during their meeting in Moscow the issue of Russian military bases in Syria, along with other bilateral matters.

Lavrov explained in remarks reported by the Russian agency Sputnik, in response to a question about whether the meeting addressed the issue of Russian bases, that “all issues were discussed,” without providing further details.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the topic of Russian military bases in Syria, including the Khmeimim airbase and Tartus naval facility, was on the agenda of discussions between the two presidents.

During his meeting with Ahmad al-Shar`a yesterday, Wednesday, Putin affirmed that Russia and Syria share special relations spanning decades, noting that Russia’s policy toward Damascus “has always been based on the interest of the Syrian people.”

Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria since 2015, when it intervened to support the former regime led by Bashar al-Assad, and its bases continue to serve as a strategic influence point in the Eastern Mediterranean.