Russia hopes to sign agreements on Syrian facilities by year-end

Agreements on the future status of Russian facilities in Syria could be signed by the end of 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko told RTVI on October 14.

Asked about the facilities at Hmeimim and Tartus, Borisenko said an interim memorandum had been signed in August to transform them into joint Russian-Syrian training and logistics centres.

He said specific intergovernmental agreements were now being prepared to establish their future status. He did not announce that those documents had already been signed.

Borisenko said the centres would be partly used jointly, including for training Syrian military personnel. His reference to the end of the year expressed an expectation rather than a confirmed signing date or a completed agreement.