Russia to establish a permanent naval base in Syria

A Russian parliamentarian said on Wednesday that Moscow is to sign an agreement with the Syrian regime to establish a permanent naval base in Tartus province.

Speaking to reporters in Moscow, the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security, Viktor Ozerov, said that talks are in the “final stages”. He refused to make any predictions about the possible date when the agreement will be submitted to the Russian parliament for ratification.

The Russian Defence Ministry announced in October that it will send all relevant documents regarding the naval base to parliament, where sources revealed that the term of the deal with Syria could be 49 years. Russia has had a naval presence in Tartus since the Cold War.

Also in October, President Vladimir Putin agreed to deploy the Russian air force in Syria “indefinitely”. The Russians will use Syria’s Humaimam Air Base without charge. The agreement also allows Russia to transport any weapons, ammunition or equipment to Syria without paying any fees or taxes.