The Wall Street Journal reported that Moscow is holding secret negotiations with Damascus about keeping Russian military bases in Syria, such as the Khmeimim air base and the naval base at Tartus. The talks also include billions of dollars in Russian investments in the energy and port sectors.
The negotiations also include the possibility of a Russian apology for its role in bombing Syrian civilians during the war. On the other hand, Moscow has rejected the Syrian government’s request to extradite the ousted president of the regime, according to European and Syrian sources familiar with the negotiations.
Before the fall of the Assad regime, Syria was one of Russia’s most prominent allies in the Middle East, with Moscow having large investments in the oil and gas sectors. Moscow is now seeking to regain these privileges through projects including developing the port of Tartus, exploiting gas and phosphate fields, and building a fertilizer plant in Homs.
In return, Russia has rushed to inject the equivalent of $23 million in Syrian pounds, according to official rates, into the Syrian Central Bank, a move aimed at strengthening its influence amid the country’s economic crisis.