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3. Syrian President al-Sharaa Meets Putin as Russia Repositions Military Presence

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa traveled to Moscow on Wednesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the future of the two countries’ relationship. Their meeting is expected to focus on Russia’s military presence in Syria and bilateral economic relations.

On Tuesday, Russian troops and military assets were withdrawn from al-Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria. Russia’s current military presence in the country remains within its air and naval bases on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, Russia’s only military bases in the Mediterranean basin. 

Earlier this month, the Syrian government recaptured much of northeastern Syria from SDF control including Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and the al-Hol camp as al-Sharaa promotes Syrian territorial integrity and sovereignty. Despite a decade-long alliance between the U.S. and the SDF, the Trump administration was notably silent during the offensive.

Also on Tuesday, al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump spoke over the phone about the Syrian government’s recent offensives against the Kurdish-led SDF, during which Trump expressed that he was “very happy” about Syria’s direction. The two also reaffirmed their commitment to preventing the rise of terrorist groups, including a resurgence of the Islamic State. 

Despite Russia’s steadfast support of the Bashar al-Assad regime and its hosting of the exiled president, the al-Sharaa government has sought pragmatic relations with Russia in a move to foster balanced relations with global actors.