Syrian Defense Minister Concludes Official Visit to Moscow to Strengthen Military Cooperation with Russia

Syrian Transitional Government Defense Minister, Major General Marhaf Abu Qasra, and his accompanying delegation concluded a three-day official visit to the Russian Federation, during which he met with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two defense ministries.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, the visit included an official meeting focused on exchanging expertise in military training and other defense-related fields. The trip follows Syrian Transitional Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s visit to Moscow earlier this month — his first since assuming office.

For his part, the Russian Defense Minister stated that the meeting reflects the ongoing communication between the political and military leaderships of both countries and provides wide opportunities to deepen comprehensive cooperation. He noted that the joint agenda covers multiple issues related to military training, technical collaboration, and security coordination.

The discussions also touched on the status of Russian troops and military bases in Syria, as Damascus seeks to establish a new legal and financial framework regulating the presence of these bases. Moscow, meanwhile, reaffirmed the importance of maintaining its positions in Hmeimim and Tartus to ensure the continuity of its regional influence.

During his earlier meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Sharaa emphasized Syria’s intention to recalibrate its relations with Russia, while Putin underscored Moscow’s commitment to supporting Syria in the post-war recovery and reconstruction phase.