Russia has turned a ‘defeat’ in Syria into a new partnership

Earlier this month, Syria’s transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in Moscow for his first official visit. The trip marked a symbolic milestone. It was the first time Russia hosted a Syrian leader since the dramatic December 2024 events in Damascus, when the regime of Bashar Assad fell and the country came under al-Sharaa’s leadership.

Talks between al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin were held behind closed doors in the Kremlin and lasted more than two and a half hours – underscoring the significance of the meeting for both sides. According to official statements, discussions focused on bilateral relations, prospects for economic and humanitarian cooperation, and the evolving situation in the Middle East. A special part of the agenda was devoted to the future of Russia’s military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim, which remain of strategic importance to Moscow.

According to international agencies and Reuters sources, the Syrian side raised the issue of extraditing the deposed Assad, who is now in Russia. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow saw no grounds for such an extradition. Facing complex internal and external pressures, Syria’s new leader has sought to maintain existing agreements with Russia and has taken a pragmatic approach in his dialogue with Moscow, counting on Russian support for the country’s reconstruction, assistance in security matters, and mediation in resolving internal and regional conflicts.

President Putin, in turn, reaffirmed that relations between Russia and Syria have always been based on respect for sovereignty and guided solely by the interests of the Syrian people. He described the October parliamentary elections as an important step toward stabilizing the country and consolidating its society.

Despite skepticism among Western analysts and hasty claims of Moscow’s “final defeat” in Syria after the events of late 2024, the actual policy of the new Damascus leadership paints a very different picture. Ahmad al-Sharaa, having assumed power after a dramatic political transition, not only preserved but also reaffirmed the strategic significance of Russia-Syria relations. His first visit to Moscow took place in an atmosphere of acknowledgment of Russia’s special role in Syria’s security and recovery, as well as a shared desire to build pragmatic and mutually beneficial dialogue.

For the new Syrian leadership, Moscow has remained a guarantor of stability and development prospects – a fact underscored by ongoing consultations and meetings in the Kremlin. Russia’s military bases, cooperation agreements, and strategic backing have proved valuable not only under the previous regime but also amid Syria’s new political course. Contrary to predictions of losing its “last foothold,” Russia has managed to retain and even strengthen its position: diplomacy has proven flexible, and mutual trust between the two nations has endured through the turning point.