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Heavy files on the table: Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's visit to Moscow
Title of the article: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharq’s Visit to Moscow: A Strategic Step Toward Resetting Relations and Shaping Syria’s Future
In what observers describe as the most significant visit since taking office, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharq arrived in Moscow carrying sensitive dossiers related to the fate of the Russian bases in Tartous and Hmeymim, scenarios for rearming the Syrian army, as well as Damascus’s demands for the handover of former President Bashar al-Assad and economic files concerning investment and energy.
This visit follows a series of diplomatic movements between Damascus and Moscow, starting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov’s visit to Damascus, followed by phone conversations between the two presidents last February, then visits by Syrian foreign and defense ministers to Moscow in July, leading up to the important meeting between al-Sharq and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could reshape the relationship between the two countries.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, political researcher Bassam Al-Suleiman confirmed that al-Sharq’s visit "falls within a new Syrian diplomacy based on building balanced relations, rooted in mutual interests, not polarization." He pointed out that Damascus "seeks to redefine its relationship with Moscow on the basis of equality and mutual respect."
Al-Suleiman also noted that "the issue of Bashar al-Assad’s surrender will be highly prominent on the discussion table," adding that Syria "will not relinquish its right to hold accountable those it accuses of being criminals who killed one million people." However, he excluded Russia’s actual handing over of Assad, emphasizing that such files are usually used as political bargaining chips. He also stressed that Moscow is "morally obliged" to improve its stance regarding the historical relations between the two peoples, considering the visit an opportunity to "open a new chapter focused on interests and balance, away from military domination or interference in internal Syrian affairs."
Meanwhile, Nikolai Sokhof, senior researcher at the Institute for Economics and International Relations at the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that "Russia’s military presence in Syria is a strategic issue tied to Moscow’s economic and geopolitical interests in the Eastern Mediterranean." He explained that the Tartous and Hmeymim bases "represent a key axis for military and economic cooperation with regional and African countries." Sokhof noted that Russia seeks to preserve its interests with the Syrian regime, acknowledging the mistakes made by Assad’s government, but today "working with a government that possesses internal and international legitimacy."
Regarding Bashar al-Assad, Sokhof indicated that Putin "will not withdraw his recognition of him as a refugee in Russia," but might be open to settlements concerning the regime’s assets and funds. He ruled out Moscow’s handing over of any "military remnants" who fled to Syria.
Analysts view al-Sharq’s visit as a real test of the strength of Moscow-Damascus relations, especially with Syria’s efforts to diversify its partnerships with the West and the Gulf. Al-Suleiman affirms that "Russia is no longer the dominant party it was during Assad’s era," noting that "Syria now has a greater margin for political maneuvering." He added that this visit could pave the way for a new phase of Syrian-Russian relations based on interests and understanding, away from dependency and dictates, potentially impacting sensitive issues such as military presence, reconstruction, and regional balance against Israel.
In conclusion, experts believe that Putin’s and al-Sharq’s meeting is not merely a protocol visit but a decisive step in shaping Syria’s future politics and guiding the country’s course in the coming phase, between Moscow and the West, after a decade of upheavals and conflicts.
Source: Sky News
