The go to comes as Moscow seeks to safe the destiny of two army bases in Syria.
A delegation of Russian officers has arrived in Damascus on the primary such go to since Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition fighters.
Al-Assad, a detailed ally of Moscow, sought refuge in Russia in December, following a lightning offensive by opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The delegation consists of Russian Deputy International Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian president’s particular envoy for Syria, the Russian state information company RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.
The delegation is anticipated to fulfill with Syria’s de facto chief, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in addition to the international minister.
The go to comes as Moscow seeks to safe the destiny of two army bases in Syria, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial that Moscow had suffered a strategic “defeat” within the Center East after al-Assad’s fall.
Russia is now targeted on securing the way forward for its naval base in Tartous and its airbase at Khmeimim—each on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and Moscow’s solely army outposts exterior the previous Soviet Union—with the brand new Syrian leaders.
Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid mentioned the talks would possible cowl potential plans for support, meals imports and the way forward for the army bases.
“It’s extraordinary that simply six weeks in the past these two sides had been enemies, they had been foes. Hundreds if not tons of of 1000’s of assaults have been carried out between the 2 of them, and now the group that isn’t in control of Syria is now throughout the desk with them,” he mentioned.
“They’re going to be discussing future prospects of support, bringing wheat into Syria, and the way forward for these bases, each naval and air,” Bin Javaid added.
Russia’s aggressive army intervention in assist of al-Assad performed a pivotal position in reversing the course of Syria’s more-than-13-year civil battle. Moscow was considered one of al-Assad’s key backers, intervening within the battle in 2015 in his favour.
Though Syria’s new de facto authorities has not severed ties with Moscow or demanded the entire withdrawal of Russian army forces from their bases, Al Watan reported earlier this month {that a} contract with a Russian firm to handle the port in Tartous had been cancelled.
Following al-Assad’s fall, Russia repositioned its troops and belongings from throughout Syria to its important base close to Latakia. There was no indication that Moscow is getting ready to evacuate the Khmeimim base or the naval facility in Tartous.
The cancellation of the contract to modernise the Tartous business port has not affected the Russian naval facility, which operates below a separate lease settlement.
The Russian delegation’s go to comes amid a flurry of diplomatic exercise by the brand new rulers, aimed toward constructing ties and easing sanctions.
European Union international ministers on Monday agreed to start easing sanctions on Syria beginning with key sectors, akin to vitality.
Saudi Arabia’s high diplomat, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was acquired by al-Sharaa on Friday, making his first go to since al-Assad’s overthrow.
