Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Moscow on Wednesday for his first official trip to Russia. The Syrian president sat down with Vladimir Putin, whose air force had bombed Syrian forces just eleven months earlier as they advanced toward Damascus, Syria.
Both leaders set this past conflict aside with careful ease.
Pragmatism Over Animosity
Putin praised decades of special relations connecting the two countries. Al-Sharaa confirmed that Damascus will honour previous agreements made with Moscow.
Behind mutual accommodation are practical calculations on both sides. The new Syrian authorities need energy supplies and economic know-how. Al-Sharaa told CBS that Syria relies partly on Russian energy and food shipments.
Russia aims to keep a Mediterranean foothold after Syria’s government ended a treaty giving Russia long-term presence at the Tartus naval base in January.
NATO officials have noted a reduction in Russia’s naval activity in the Mediterranean. Losing Tartus complicates ongoing operations, requiring Russian forces to move submarines from northern or Baltic ports.
Former Adversaries Share Strategic Goals
On top of their pragmatic inclinations, pressing security concerns pull the two governments closer.
Al-Sharaa’s government needs outside backing to handle internal challenges. Military and security personnel from the Assad era remain embedded in Syrian institutions. Syrian officials are looking for guarantees that Russia will avoid helping rearm remnants of Assad’s forces.
Cooperation with Moscow offers legitimacy that helps integrate these forces.
Both governments also align on security concerns from outside. Israel has intensified operations in southern Syria and conducted airstrikes in Damascus. Netanyahu referred to the new Damascus government as an extremist regime, whilst Moscow maintains pragmatic yet distant relations with the Israeli government.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani told CNN that Israeli strikes shocked his country.
Prior to last summer’s strikes, Israel and Syria were in advanced talks on a security deal. Discussions stalled after the IDF carried out several airstrikes on Syrian military targets in July.
Russia’s Deterrent Role Returns
Although Moscow faces setbacks in maintaining naval access, it regains influence by resuming a deterrent role on the ground.
Russia had previously provided Damascus with diplomatic support against Israeli strikes. Al-Sharaa is expected to push Moscow to support efforts resisting larger demilitarized zones in southern Syria.
He may also propose redeploying Russian military police to act as guarantors against further encroachments.
The situation echoes Moscow’s role during the Assad era. Russia helped deter deeper external involvement in Syria during the civil war.
The new authorities seek similar protection while rebuilding state capacity.
Turkey will likely regard Russian presence in Syria with cautious acceptance because of Ankara's own tensions with Israel. Turkey has closed airspace to Israeli aircraft and views Israel as a national security threat, one analyst explained.
Western Engagement Remains Inhibited
While Russia strengthens its ground role, Western engagement stays measured, maintaining significant limits.
Washington removed its most severe sanctions on Syria after Trump met Al-Sharaa in May. The UK also lifted sanctions targeting Syria’s central bank and oil sector to encourage closer ties.
These steps mark early diplomatic openings rather than full engagement. Al-Sharaa called on Western countries at the UN General Assembly in September to remove sanctions completely.
Many barriers remain. Economic rebuilding and reform of the security sector will take years of external support.
Damascus now balances relations between Moscow and Western capitals. Yet Russia provides immediate help with fewer strings attached, with the guarantee of security presence on Syria's territory as a buffer to Israeli overreach. This approach renews Moscow's regional influence despite losing Assad.
Syria Differs From Iraq and Lebanon
Unlike Iraq and Lebanon, Syria’s unique geographic and political situation creates very different challenges and opportunities.
Iraq after the invasion never became a frontline state facing similar security issues. Baghdad’s distance from contested borders and distinct social makeup created different outcomes. Syria’s territorial unity and proximity to multiple conflict points make outside security guarantees more important for Damascus.
Lebanon’s smaller size and internal divisions prevented it from hosting similar arrangements. Syria’s larger scale and geography support different calculations.
Russia finds opportunity in this context.
Moscow can offer support addressing Syrian security challenges while regaining Mediterranean access. Both governments accept this transactional relationship despite recent conflicts.
The meeting between Putin and Al-Sharaa shows how quickly former foes adjust when interests align.
Geography, energy needs, and shared concerns about outside interference create common ground. Practical accommodation could restore Russia’s regional role through a government once targeted for destruction.
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