Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’a arrived in Russia on Wednesday. He is expected to hold important talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is significant because it was Sharaa who overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. Russia backed Assad.
In 2015, Moscow intervened in the Syrian civil war to back Assad. Russia said it was helping Syria fight “terrorists.” One of the groups the Assad regime was fighting was Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which Sharaa led. As such, Russia was backing Assad against the group that is now leading Syria.
This is quite the journey for Sharaa. It illustrates that he trusts that Moscow will not harm him while he is there. Enemies of Moscow in other contexts have been killed in various ways, such as falling out of windows or being poisoned.
As a reminder, Assad escaped Syria and fled to Russia in December 2024. As such, the Kremlin is essentially hosting both the former regime leader and the new one simultaneously.
This is a testament to Sharaa’s willingness to take risks and also demonstrates Moscow’s pragmatism. He has also conducted extensive outreach to the West. Sharaa is seeking sanctions relief.
Moscow is part of that stage
He has also conducted outreach throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds, as well as in Asia. He feels confident on the global stage. Moscow is part of that stage.
By visiting Russia, Sharaa is also indicating that Syria is not going to become solely a Western ally. Like India, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other states, his country will seek to maintain friendships on all sides.
As Syria’s state media noted, “Sharaa arrived in Russia on Wednesday for an official visit to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin... Sharaa is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Maj.-Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra.”
The report further said that the focus will be on “bilateral relations between the two countries and regional and international developments of mutual interest.”
Economic cooperation will be on the list as well. “According to the Presidential Media Directorate, Sharaa is scheduled to meet with... Putin... to discuss regional and international developments of mutual interest and ways to enhance cooperation in the service of both countries’ shared interests,” SANA said.
Sharaa will also meet with Syrians living in Russia.
The Kremlin has had military facilities in Syria in the past and wants to maintain them. It has had forces stationed at the Khmeimim Air Base and Tartus naval base in northwestern Syria in the past. This is a crucial aspect of Russian influence.
Moscow had also previously played a role in deconfliction in Syria. It patrolled eastern Syria and was often in touch with Iran and Israel regarding developments.
As for Syria, it was a key ally of the Soviet Union during the Soviet period. Putin is likely aware of this and wants to claw Syria back into the Moscow network of friends.