Syria Calls for Russia to Pay Compensation as Talks on Military Bases Stall

Introduction

The new government in Syria has increased engagement with Russia, seeking compensation as negotiations on the future of key Russian military bases in Syria have reached a stalemate. The latest round of talks represents the first direct contact between Damascus and Moscow since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad and reflects changing regional dynamics.

Syria Calls for Compensation

After talks in Damascus with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, the Syrian government emphasized how what it called past grievances must be considered. The readout underlined that the reparations by Russia for its role in Syria should go down to the level of economic and infrastructural aiding in the reconstruction efforts. However, exact details on compensation remain undisclosed.

Stalled Negotiations on Russian Military Bases

Although Russia has kept a strategic foothold in Syria for years, it is finding it increasingly difficult to secure continued access to its two key military bases:

Tartus Naval Base – Russia's only Mediterranean naval hub, which is important for the projection of its power.

Hmeimim Airbase – A key logistical and resupply center for the Russian military across the Middle East and Africa.

The constructive discussions, Bogdanov said, were still unable to yield a result on the question of the bases, evidence of the heightening tension between Moscow and Damascus.

Strategic Importance of the Russian Bases in Syria

A withdrawal from the military presence in Syria is something the Kremlin cannot afford because, despite heightened tensions with the West, the loss of Tartus and Hmeimim will markedly reduce Russia's capacity for operations in the Mediterranean and Africa. According to the reports, Moscow's activities at Hmeimim have already been scaled down, with its transport ships facing delays at Syrian ports.

The Fallout of Assad's Ouster

The recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria disrupted Moscow's long-term plans there. First, Russia had hoped that Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the former Al-Qaeda-linked group that led the takeover, would allow it to retain military assets. But negotiations with the new government have proven hard.

Moscow had played an instrumental role in rescuing Assad from defeat and had expected to retain its influence in return. The current growing uncertainty is putting up questions as to whether Russia will be able to sustain its presence in Syria or be forced into withdrawal.

The Greater Geopolitical Impact

The deadlocked negotiations between Syria and Russia are not strictly a two-way affair but have enormous geopolitical ramifications:

The Loss of the Russian Bases: Losing them would not only weaken Moscow's position in the Middle East but also hinder the possibility to counter the US and NATO presence.

The Realignment of Syria: Damascus may shift toward other alliances in case Moscow does not address its interests.

Impact on Global Military Logistics: Supply routes of Russia through Africa may be disrupted to an unprecedented level, affecting its operations in Libya, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

Conclusion

This might signal a change in the relationship as Syria seeks compensation from Russia while delaying the negotiating process on military bases. While this happens, Moscow will struggle hard to hold onto its strategic foothold, and Damascus seems determined to make full use of the opportunity. It is going to be really important in the coming weeks to see how Russia secures its interests or takes a severe blow in the Middle East.