New Syrian President, Putin Forge Pragmatic Ties in Moscow Summit
Published Date: 16th Oct, 2025
MOSCOW — Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday for their first face-to-face talks since the fall of the long-time Kremlin ally, Bashar al-Assad, underscoring a pragmatic pivot in the historically complex relationship between the two nations.
The summit signals Moscow's immediate efforts to safeguard its military and strategic foothold in Syria and forge a working relationship with the new administration in Damascus, despite having previously backed al-Assad’s ousted predecessor against the rebel offensive he led.
During the meeting at the Kremlin, President al-Sharaa stated that Syria aims to "restore and redefine in a new way the nature of these relations," emphasizing a desire for a "sovereign Syria" and respect for all previous bilateral agreements. This assurance is seen as a commitment to maintaining Russia's key military outposts in the country, including the Tartus naval facility and the Khmeimim airbase, which are critical for Moscow's regional influence.
For his part, President Putin hailed the "special relations" that have developed over many decades, assuring that Russia’s relationship with Syria has always been "exclusively friendly."
A significant, though likely unfulfilled, element of al-Sharaa’s visit was his expected request for the extradition of former President Assad. Assad and his family were granted asylum in Russia after his swift departure from Damascus in December of last year. Moscow has previously granted asylum on humanitarian grounds and has indicated that it is unlikely to comply with an extradition request.
Beyond the strategic and political reset, economic cooperation was a major focus. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister stated that Moscow is ready to support Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction, particularly in the energy and transport sectors. For the new Syrian government, maintaining ties with Russia is viewed as essential for securing energy and food supplies and for diversifying its foreign policy amid ongoing international uncertainty.
The talks mark a significant diplomatic move for President al-Sharaa as his administration seeks international legitimacy and assistance in rebuilding a war-shattered nation.
Date: 16th Oct, 2025
