Russia and Syria Finalize Deal to Repurpose Tartus and Khmeimim Bases into Joint Training Centers

Russia and the new Syrian government have reached a memorandum of understanding on the future of Moscow's two key military bases in Syria, marking a significant reorganization of Russia's presence following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

According to statements from Syria's Foreign Ministry via state news agency SANA, the agreement signed on August 9, 2026, after approximately 18 months of negotiations, will transform the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base into joint Russian-Syrian training and capacity-building centers. Civilian facilities, including Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartus port, will be handed over to Syrian civilian administration and integrated into the national system within a three-month transition period.

Russia's Foreign Ministry described the deal as an important step to improve bilateral military cooperation and broader relations, rooted in a long history of friendship. Some Russian forces are expected to remain at the sites to support training operations and potentially serve as transit points for logistics in Africa, though the arrangement represents a downgrade from exclusive Russian control, particularly at the Tartus deep-water port.

The new Syrian authorities under Ahmed al-Sharaa have framed the memorandum as reorganizing the Russian presence along the coast, opening a new phase in relations. This comes as both Russia and Iran have seen their influence in Syria diminish since Assad's departure.

Multiple international outlets, including Reuters, Al Jazeera, and The Moscow Times, confirm the core elements of the deal based on official Syrian and Russian statements.