A meeting was held between Foreign Minister Assad Hassan Al Shaibani, Defense Minister Mulhaf Abu Kasra, and the President of Russia.
Syria’s foreign and defense ministers met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and discussed expanding “strategic cooperation in the field of military industry,” Syrian state media reported.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said Tuesday’s talks between Putin and Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Mulhaf Abu Kasra focused on political, economic and military issues of “mutual interest”, but “particular emphasis was on defence”.
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According to SANA, President Putin and the Syrian Cabinet discussed a wide range of defense-related issues, including the development of military cooperation to strengthen the capabilities of the Syrian Army, the modernization of equipment, and the transfer of expertise and cooperation in research and development.
“During the talks, the two sides considered ways to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces and advance military and technological partnership in a way that keeps pace with modern developments in the military industry,” SANA reported.
The two countries also discussed political and economic issues, including “the importance of continued political and diplomatic cooperation between Damascus and Moscow in international forums,” the news agency said.
On the economic front, the talks focused on expanding cooperation between Syria and Russia, including reconstruction projects, infrastructure development, and investments in Syria.
Putin also reaffirmed Russia’s “firm support” for Syria and its territorial integrity, while reiterating “Moscow’s condemnation of Israel’s repeated violations of Syrian territory, which it described as a direct threat to regional security and stability.”
The ministers’ visit to Moscow is the latest by Syria’s new authorities since the country’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, a former ally of Moscow in Damascus, was ousted in December last year.
Russia has been al-Assad’s main supporter during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, providing critical military aid to keep Assad in power, including Russian air support that focused airstrikes on rebel-held areas.
Although President al-Assad and his family have been in exile in Russia since the collapse of the al-Assad regime, the Russian government is keen to build good relations with the new government in Damascus.
The Russian government is particularly keen to secure an agreement to continue operating the Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, where Russian troops continue to be stationed.
In October, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visited Russia and said that the Syrian government would abide by all previous agreements signed between Damascus and Moscow. The agreement signaled that Russia’s two military bases would be safe after the fall of the Assad regime.
President Putin said during Al-Shallah’s visit that Russia is ready to do everything in its power to build on what he called “many interesting and fruitful beginnings” the two countries had discussed on repairing relations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani during the Syrian delegation’s visit, Russian state media reported on Tuesday, citing Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
During a visit to Moscow in July, al-Shaibani said his country wanted Russia “on our side.”
“These times are full of challenges and threats, but they are also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia on our side on this path,” Al-Shaibani told Lavrov at the time.
