Russia and Syria Sign Memorandum on Future of Military Bases

Russia and Syria have finalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that settles the status of Moscow's naval base at Tartous and airbase at Hmeimim. The agreement was reached after 18 months of intensive negotiations.

Under the MoU, both sides will begin reorganizing Russia's military presence along the Syrian coast. No details on the scale or timeline of the restructuring were immediately disclosed.

The deal marks a formal step in reshaping Russia's strategic footprint in the Mediterranean, where the two bases have been key assets for Russian operations since 2015.