Syria, Russia discuss military cooperation and reconstruction after Assad
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Syrian foreign and defense ministers.
Syria sent a delegation to Moscow on December 23 led by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. It includes Defense Minister General Murhaf Abu Qasra and officials from the General Directorate of Intelligence, according to Syrian state media SANA. The visit comes after Syria hosted a high-level Turkish delegation in Damascus.
The Syrian delegation is expected to hold talks on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. According to Al-Ain media in the United Arab Emirates, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Syrian foreign and defense ministers and discussed military issues.
“This is the last trip by the new Syrian authorities to Russia since they ousted Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Moscow, last December,” Al-Ain noted.
The report said the meetings discussed various political, military and economic issues of common interest between the two countries, with a particular focus on strategic cooperation in the field of military industries.
Media outlet SANA also reported that the two sides discussed “ways to develop the military and technical partnership… and transfer technical and technological expertise, as well as cooperation in the fields of research and development, in order to contribute to strengthening the national defense system and support security and stability in Syria and the region.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on October 15, 2025. (credit: ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Expand economic and commercial cooperation
Emphasis was also placed on economic issues, including “prospects for expanding economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, including supporting reconstruction projects, developing infrastructure sectors, encouraging investments in Syria, in addition to strengthening trade and facilitating partnerships, which will have a positive impact on the Syrian economy and contribute to improving living conditions,” SANA said.
Russia and Syria are trying to consider how to move their relations forward after the fall of the Assad regime last year.
Russia was a key partner of Assad. However, it was also an ally of the Syrian state and Moscow and Damascus want to retain key elements of that partnership.
Russia has bases in Syria and wishes to maintain its assets there. “President Putin reaffirmed Russia’s unwavering support for Syria, emphasizing the importance of preserving Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and full sovereignty, and rejecting any plans to divide the country or undermine its independent national decision.
He also renewed Moscow’s condemnation of Israel’s repeated violations of Syrian territory, describing them as a direct threat to regional security and stability,” SANA said.
