Pragmatism towards the new Damascus authorities is saving the devastated country and maintaining Moscow's footprint in the Middle East

Earlier this month, Syria's transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in Moscow for his first official visit. The trip marked a symbolic milestone. It was the first time Russia hosted a Syrian leader since the dramatic December 2024 events in Damascus, when the regime of Bashar Assad fell and the country came under al-Sharaa's leadership.

Talks between al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin were held behind closed doors in the Kremlin and lasted more than two and a half hours - underscoring the significance of the meeting for both sides. According to official statements, discussions focused on bilateral relations, prospects for economic and humanitarian cooperation, and the evolving situation in the Middle East. A special part of the agenda was devoted to the future of Russia's military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim, which remain of strategic importance to Moscow.

According to international agencies and Reuters sources, the Syrian side raised the issue of extraditing the deposed Assad, who is now in Russia. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow saw no grounds for such an extradition. Facing complex internal and external pressures, Syria's new leader has sought to maintain existing agreements with Russia and has taken a pragmatic approach in his dialogue with Moscow, counting on Russian support for the country's reconstruction, assistance in security matters, and mediation in resolving internal and regional conflicts.

President Putin, in turn, reaffirmed that relations between Russia and Syria have always been based on respect for sovereignty and guided solely by the interests of the Syrian people. He described the October parliamentary elections as an important step toward stabilizing the country and consolidating its society.

Despite skepticism among Western analysts and hasty claims of Moscow's "final defeat" in Syria after the events of late 2024, the actual policy of the new Damascus leadership paints a very different picture. Ahmad al-Sharaa, having assumed power after a dramatic political transition, not only preserved but also reaffirmed the strategic significance of Russia-Syria relations. His first visit to Moscow took place in an atmosphere of acknowledgment of Russia's special role in Syria's security and recovery, as well as a shared desire to build pragmatic and mutually beneficial dialogue.

For the new Syrian leadership, Moscow has remained a guarantor of stability and development prospects - a fact underscored by ongoing consultations and meetings in the Kremlin. Russia's military bases, cooperation agreements, and strategic backing have proved valuable not only under the previous regime but also amid Syria's new political course. Contrary to predictions of losing its "last foothold," Russia has managed to retain and even strengthen its position: diplomacy has proven flexible, and mutual trust between the two nations has endured through the turning point.

The current reality confirms the strategic foresight and consistency of Moscow's approach to the Syrian crisis and the broader Middle East. Russia's calm, systematic policy - focused on long-term interests and a balanced alignment of regional priorities - continues to offer Damascus the choice of partnership and ensures Moscow's sustained geopolitical influence even after profound regional change.

The economic dimension of Russian-Syrian relations is also entering a new phase of revitalization. Following the Moscow talks, both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in the near future, as confirmed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Despite the modest scale of bilateral trade in recent years - between $650 million and $1 billion, constrained by conflict and sanctions - both parties have expressed determination to restore and expand these volumes.

The Russian side has expressed its readiness to continue implementing projects in Syria's oil fields, including on facilities requiring development or reactivation, as well as newly explored sites. Russian companies have been present in Syria's oil sector for many years, and their involvement is now expected to expand. Beyond energy, Moscow has shown strong interest in the modernization of Syria's transport infrastructure and the restoration of the national energy system using Russian technologies and equipment. Russia currently has around 40 investment projects in Syria across key sectors essential for the country's recovery - including energy, transport, housing construction, and industrial development.

In the humanitarian sphere, cooperation remains a vital area of bilateral engagement. During the talks, the two sides discussed humanitarian deliveries to Syria, with the Syrian delegation expressing particular interest in supplies of wheat, food, and medicine. President Putin reaffirmed Russia's readiness to continue assisting the improvement of Syria's socioeconomic conditions and to maintain humanitarian support. Over the years, Russia has sent substantial volumes of aid to Syria - including medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, school supplies, and other essential goods.

Both parties also agreed to review and update all bilateral agreements and contracts, bringing the legal framework in line with current realities and the interests of the Syrian people. Special attention will be given to training programs - both civilian and military - and to cooperation in education and culture. Notably, Russia's Goznak, the company responsible for printing paper money and minting coins, recently signed a contract to produce new Syrian banknotes, underscoring the expansion of practical cooperation even in highly specialized areas.

A key component of bilateral cooperation remains the export of Russian agricultural products and their role in ensuring Syria's food security. In 2025, Syria faced an unprecedented food crisis caused by the most severe drought in 36 years, which reduced wheat production by about 40 percent. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the wheat deficit this year amounts to 2.73 million tons - enough to feed approximately 16 million people for a year. More than half of Syria's population of 25.6 million suffers from food shortages, and nearly three million people are at risk of acute hunger.

In 2025, the new Syrian government purchased only 373,500 tons of wheat from domestic farmers - roughly half the previous year's figure. A Syrian government official reported that the country needs to import about 2.55 million tons of wheat this year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Syria will have to import a record 2.15 million tons of wheat in the 2025-2026 season - 53 percent more than in the previous season. The 2025 harvest will cover only 19 percent of the country's annual demand of 4 million tons, leaving a deficit of around 80 percent.

After the change of power in December 2024, shipments of Russian wheat to Syria were temporarily suspended due to uncertainties regarding the new leadership and payment arrangements. However, by April 2025, Russia resumed grain exports. The first batch of 6,600 tons of wheat arrived at the port of Latakia on April 20, marking the beginning of renewed regular deliveries. During the recent Kremlin talks, the Syrian side reaffirmed its interest in continued imports of wheat, food, and medicine, and these issues were included in the bilateral working agenda. Russian wheat has become more than a commodity - it is now an instrument of humanitarian stabilization, helping to avert a large-scale catastrophe and ensure the survival of millions of Syrians.

Furthermore, Syria remains heavily dependent on Russia in regards to national security, particularly amid ongoing Israeli aggression and the urgent need to restore the combat readiness of its armed forces after years of conflict and political upheaval.

Since the beginning of 2025, Israel has intensified its military operations against Syria. Between January and May alone, Israeli Air Force aircraft carried out more than 300 airstrikes on Syrian army facilities across various provinces. Following the fall of Assad, Israel deployed ground forces into southwestern Syria, near the Golan Heights, effectively expanding its military presence in the area.

In July 2025, Israeli airstrikes twice targeted the Syrian Armed Forces General Staff building in Damascus, as well as the presidential palace and other strategic facilities. The attacks form part of Israel's broader strategy to create a controlled buffer zone in southern Syria and prevent the redeployment of Syrian military formations south of Damascus.

Under the current circumstances, the continuation of Russia's military presence in Syria - including the naval base in Tartus and the air base in Hmeimim - has become a critical factor in deterring external threats and a guarantee of the country's territorial integrity. During the October talks in Moscow, both sides discussed the future of Russia's military presence and the possible reconfiguration of its facilities to reflect the new realities on the ground.

An equally important area of cooperation remains the restoration of Syria's defense capability. It was largely thanks to Russia's efforts in previous years that the 4th and 5th Army Corps were formed, trained, and equipped; the elite "Tiger Forces" unit was reorganized; and the Syrian army's command structure and operational effectiveness were restored. Russian military advisers played a decisive role in the reorganization and technical modernization of the Syrian Armed Forces, helping to restore their capacity for autonomous combat operations.

During the transitional period, Russia reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation in the fields of security and personnel training, both civilian and military. When Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Sheibani visited Moscow in July 2025, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov held talks with his Syrian counterpart to discuss the future of bilateral military cooperation.

The first official visit of Syria's new president to Moscow convincingly dispelled Western predictions about the collapse of Russian influence in the Middle East following the fall of the Assad regime. The lengthy discussions with President Putin and the agreements reached across a wide range of issues - from the maintenance of military bases and economic recovery to the crucial supply of wheat amid a food crisis - clearly demonstrated that the new Syrian leadership views Russia as an indispensable strategic partner.

Amid Israeli aggression, domestic challenges, and the urgent need for national reconstruction, Damascus has made a deliberate choice to deepen cooperation with Moscow in the military-political, economic, and humanitarian spheres - decisions that underscore the strategic foresight and consistency of Russia's regional policy.