Russia to keep two Syrian bases as joint training hubs under new pact
Russia will maintain a presence at its two remaining Syrian bases, converting them into joint training and capacity-building centres under an agreement announced by the Syrian foreign ministry.
The Syrian foreign ministry disclosed that Moscow’s two official military installations outside the former Soviet bloc will be restructured as collaborative training sites. While the exact framework was not detailed, Russian troops are expected to stay on the premises. This follows a period when Russia operated roughly a hundred facilities in Syria after intervening in 2015 to support Bashar al-Assad alongside Iran and its allies. The shift signals a transition toward a more secondary role for Russia in the region’s power dynamics.
Why it matters
It shows Russia’s reduced but still strategic role in Syria, affecting regional power balances.
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