Overview

• Syrian interim president Ahmed al‑Sharaa is scheduled to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Oct. 15 in his first visit to Russia since Bashar al‑Assad was ousted last year.
• The agenda includes negotiations over the future of Russia’s naval facility in Tartous and its Hmeimim air base, including potential changes to their roles.
• Sharaa plans to formally request that Russia hand over Assad, who was granted asylum there, for trial over alleged crimes against Syrians.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this week that Damascus wants Russian bases to remain, with possible repurposing to reflect new circumstances.
• The trip follows July talks in Moscow that both sides cast as groundwork for restoring ties, as Russia seeks to retain influence and has offered diplomatic backing over Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.