New government cancels Russian firm's Tartous port contract

Syria’s transitional authorities terminated the contract with the Russian company managing Tartous port, Al-Monitor reported Tuesday, ending a more than five-year arrangement and further reducing Russia's presence in the country after the Assad regime's collapse last month.

Riyad Judi, head of the customs department in Tartous, told the Syrian newspaper al-Watan on Monday that port revenues will now benefit the Syrian state. He added that the transitional government plans to reduce customs fees at the port by 60 percent, describing commercial activity there as “excellent,” with Syrian, Arab, and international ships transporting goods such as iron, carbonates, and sugar.

The Assad government had signed a 49-year agreement in 2019 with Russian engineering firm Stroytransgaz to manage Tartous port, Syria’s second largest after Latakia. The port is strategically significant as it houses Russia's only naval base in the Mediterranean.

According to Marine Traffic, the Russian cargo ship Sparta II docked at Tartous on Tuesday after waiting off the Syrian coast for over two weeks due to new restrictions. The ship is believed to be carrying military equipment, Al-Monitor reported.

Russia’s military presence in Syria has come under scrutiny following the fall of Assad on Dec. 8. Russian troops and vehicles have been seen withdrawing from Syrian bases, with reports suggesting they are being relocated to other Middle Eastern countries, including Libya.

On Dec. 12, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Moscow was in direct talks with Syria’s transitional authorities to maintain its military bases in the country. The new government has not yet announced a decision on the matter.