Russia and Syria Transform Bases into Joint Training Centers

Russia has agreed with Syria to establish a joint training center instead of a military base. Russia and Syria have reached a memorandum of understanding on the reorganization of the Russian presence on the Syrian coast.

Consensus

Russia and Syria signed a memorandum on the reorganization of Russian military presence in Syria.
The Russian military bases in Khmeimim and Tartus will be transformed into joint training centers.
Civilian facilities, including the Khmeimim airport and the fourth commercial pier in Tartus, will be transferred to Syrian civil administration.
The transition process is expected to be completed within three months.
The agreement follows approximately 18 months of negotiations between Moscow and Damascus.
The new arrangement aims to serve the interests of both countries.
The previous agreements on military bases were signed under the Assad regime and are no longer valid after his overthrow in December 2024.

Points of divergence

The Russian military bases are being reclassified as joint training centers to legitimize their presence and ensure long-term use as a transit hub to Africa. — kommersant
The transformation is a consequence of the collapse of Russian influence in Syria after the fall of Assad, and the new Syrian leadership, which includes former opposition figures, is pushing for reduced Russian presence as a condition for financial aid. — tg_rybar
The Assad regime was overthrown in December 2024 after an 11-day offensive by the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, leading to Assad fleeing to Moscow and Ahmed al-Sharaa becoming the new president. — tg_sotavisionmedia
In May 2025, an unknown group attacked a checkpoint near Khmeimim, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights linking the attackers to factions loyal to the new Damascus government. — tg_astrapress
Russia's Syria campaign cost hundreds of billions of rubles, with official Russian data reporting 116 Russian military deaths and independent sources estimating at least 543 Russian civilian deaths, including Wagner Group fighters. — tg_sotavisionmedia
Over 300,000 civilians died in the Syrian war, and about 6.8 million Syrians fled the country. — tg_sotavisionmedia

Coverage (20 sources)

Russia legalized its military presence in Syria — Коммерсантъ
From bases to training centers — Рыбарь
Russian military bases in Syria will become joint training centers. The Syrian campaign cost Russia hundreds of millions... — SOTAvision
Russia agreed with Syria to create a joint training center instead of a military base — The Moscow Times
Russia and Syria sign memorandum on reorganization of Russian military bases into joint training centers — ЭХО / Новости
Syria and Russia sign memorandum on creation of joint training centers at former Russian military bases — ASTRA
Syria and Russia agreed to make Russian bases centers of joint military training — DW Главное
Russia and Syria agreed to turn Russian military bases into joint training centers — Дождь (Telegram)
Syria and Russia agreed to turn Russian military bases into joint training centers — Дождь
Russian military bases in Syria will be reorganized into Russian-Syrian training centers — Настоящее Время
Russian military bases in Syria are being transformed into joint training centers — The Insider
Russia and Syria agreed on the future of Russian military bases. They will be turned into joint training centers — Meduza
Sana: Syria and Russia have agreed on the future of Russian military bases — Ведомости
Joint training centers for military will be created on Russian bases in Syria — Вести
Syria and Russia signed a memorandum on the future of Russian military bases — Фонтанка
Russian military bases Hmeimim and Tartus in Syria are being transformed into joint training and preparation centers, said in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... — РИА Новости (Telegram)
Syria and Russia signed memorandum on the future of Russian military bases — Вечерняя Москва
Damascus and Moscow reorganize work of Russian bases in Syria — Интерфакс
Russia and new Syrian authorities agreed on the fate of military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim — Коммерсантъ
Syria and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on the future of Russian military bases. They will become centers of joint warfare... — ТАСС (Telegram)

Russia and Syria Transform Bases into Joint Training Centers

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (20 sources)

Key entities

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