Al-Shara meets Putin as Russia tries to secure military base in Syria | Vladimir Putin News

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The Kremlin has not indicated whether al-Shara’s repeated requests for Bashar al-Assad’s extradition will be granted.

President of Syria Ahmad al-Shara He is meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow as he seeks to secure a military presence in the country after the ouster of former Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed ahead of Wednesday’s meeting that the talks would focus on “the presence of our troops in Syria”, which are based at the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.

Earlier this week, the Kremlin withdrew its forces from Qamishli airport in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria, leaving it with only two Mediterranean bases – now the only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union.

Moscow has been working to build ties with al-Shar’a from its rebel forces dropped A long time ruler Al-Assad In December 2024, it aims to ensure its continued military presence in the country, increasing its influence in the Middle East.

A practical approach

Despite Putin backing al-Assad with extensive military support, the new rulers in Damascus have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Russia, allowing Moscow to maintain a presence in its air and naval bases.

Al-Shar’a struck a conciliatory tone in between first meeting To the Kremlin in October, but under the auspices of Russia Al-Assad And his wife, who fled to Moscow after the rebel uprising, is a thorny problem.

Peskov declined to indicate whether the Kremlin would agree to Al-Shara’s repeated requests for the former president’s extradition.

Putin will be particularly keen to preserve his country’s presence in Syria when the US sent special forces to kidnap Venezuela’s president, losing another friend this month. Nicolas Maduro.

The USIt has, in recent times, fostered warm relations with al-Shara, which has welcomed al-Assad’s demise. battle between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the army.

A fragile ceasefire is now in place and largely holding.