Kathmandu— Syria’s Foreign Ministry announced Sunday an agreement with Russia regarding the future of Russian military bases in Syria, used to support former President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian war. The Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base will be transformed into “joint training and capacity-building centres” as part of arrangements designed to protect shared interests, according to the state-run SANA news agency. The memorandum of understanding follows a year and a half of negotiations and stipulates a three-month deadline for completing the transition, with civilian facilities at both bases immediately reverting to Syrian control.

Terms of the Agreement

The agreement outlines a shift in the function of the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base from operational military installations to joint training centers. Civilian infrastructure at both locations will be handed over to Damascus in the short term, while the full transition is expected within three months. This arrangement aims to preserve mutual interests between Syria and Russia.

Asserting Syrian Sovereignty

According to Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, reporting from Damascus, the agreement serves as a demonstration of control by the Syrian government over assets within its territory. “Syria’s government is using it to send a clear message that the central government in Damascus is in control of all assets that belong to Syria and are part of Syrian territory,” he explained. Hitto further stated that Damascus is affirming “its national sovereignty is not up for negotiation.”

Russia's Diminished Presence

The agreement comes after a significant reduction in Russia’s military footprint in Syria. Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto noted that Russia has downgraded its presence from over 100 bases to just these two coastal positions. The new arrangement seeks to define the terms of Russia's continued, albeit altered, military presence in the country.

Recent Diplomatic Efforts

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani inspected both facilities on Sunday following the signing of the memorandum of understanding. President Vladimir Putin has been working to rebuild relations with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa since Assad’s ouster in 2024, and has met with Sharaa twice in Moscow. During their most recent meeting in January, Putin praised Sharaa's efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity while also acknowledging the progress made in restoring interstate relations.

The specifics of Russia’s future military presence at the newly designated training centers remain unclear and are expected to be clarified in the coming weeks. The agreement marks a significant development in Syrian-Russian relations following years of conflict and political upheaval.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.