Overview
- The two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday, August 9, 2026, after about 18 months of talks to reorganise Russia's presence at Hmeimim and Tartus.
- Under the deal Damascus will assume management of civilian sites including Hmeimim airport and Pier No.4 at Tartus so those facilities can be integrated into Syria's civil administration.
- Military installations at both locations will be repurposed as joint training, rehabilitation and qualification centres under arrangements described as protecting the interests of both sides.
- The memorandum sets a transition deadline of no more than three months for the changes to take effect and reports say Russian resupply and operational activity continued during negotiations.
- Officials and experts say the pact could reshape Russia's strategic role in the eastern Mediterranean, free Tartus for commercial development, and let Syrian authorities begin rehabilitation and economic use of port and airport infrastructure.