Syria and Russia reached a memorandum of understanding settling the future of Russian bases at Tartous and Hmeimim, the Syrian foreign ministry said on Sunday, according to the Syrian state news agency, according to Reuters.
The ministry told SANA that the two countries would begin reorganising Russia's presence on the Syrian coast under the memorandum, following 18 months of intensive negotiations. It gave no details of what the reorganization would entail.
Russia's naval facility at Tartous and Hmeimim air base have long been Moscow's principal military footholds in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Their future has been the subject of negotiations with Syria's new leadership since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024.
In a separate statement, Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs said Syria would take over the commercial sites previously operated by Russia at Tartous port, including Pier No. 4 and its associated warehouses and facilities.
Reuters reported last month that Russia was seeking to establish a commercial logistics hub at Tartous port using Pier No. 4, a restricted zone outside the naval base. The two sides said at the time the hub would remain under Syrian control, with all operations subject to approval by Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs.
