In the wake of Bashar al-Assad's regime's fall, Russia seeks to negotiate its military presence in Syria.
Russian Envoys Visit Syria Post-Assad Regime Collapse
Russian Envoys Visit Syria Post-Assad Regime Collapse
Russian officials engage with new Syrian leadership amid shifting alliances.
In a significant geopolitical development, a high-level Russian delegation has arrived in Damascus for the first time since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad's government last month, according to reports from Russian state media. The delegation includes Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's deputy foreign minister responsible for Middle Eastern affairs, alongside Aleksandr Lavrentiev, the special presidential envoy for Syria.
This visit comes as the newly-established leadership in Syria, predominantly occupied by the rebel faction that ended al-Assad's decades-long rule, signals its intent to maintain relations with Russia despite the latter's previous support for the overthrown regime. Ahmed al-Shara, the current interim leader of the Syrian opposition, expressed his desire to preserve and strengthen ties with Moscow, emphasizing the country’s critical role in providing military resources and supporting essential infrastructure like power plants.
"The relationship with Russia is vital for us, and we won't pursue a path that jeopardizes that connection," al-Shara stated in an interview with Al Arabiya, acknowledging Moscow's influence over Syria's evolving political landscape. His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, while labeled a terrorist organization by both Russia and the U.S., is nonetheless attracting attention from global powers eager to assert influence in the region as it transitions toward a post-conflict reality.
As the situation on the ground continues to evolve, the forthcoming diplomatic negotiations will likely shape not only Syria's immediate future but also the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
This visit comes as the newly-established leadership in Syria, predominantly occupied by the rebel faction that ended al-Assad's decades-long rule, signals its intent to maintain relations with Russia despite the latter's previous support for the overthrown regime. Ahmed al-Shara, the current interim leader of the Syrian opposition, expressed his desire to preserve and strengthen ties with Moscow, emphasizing the country’s critical role in providing military resources and supporting essential infrastructure like power plants.
"The relationship with Russia is vital for us, and we won't pursue a path that jeopardizes that connection," al-Shara stated in an interview with Al Arabiya, acknowledging Moscow's influence over Syria's evolving political landscape. His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, while labeled a terrorist organization by both Russia and the U.S., is nonetheless attracting attention from global powers eager to assert influence in the region as it transitions toward a post-conflict reality.
As the situation on the ground continues to evolve, the forthcoming diplomatic negotiations will likely shape not only Syria's immediate future but also the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
