Syria Ends Russian Naval Base Deal

Syria’s new government has annulled a contract signed under Bashar Assad’s regime that leased the port of Tartus to the Russian Navy, Syrian media reported on Tuesday.

Significance: Russia’s presence at Tartus dates back to the Cold War era. The port became especially valuable to the Kremlin in the late 2000s after Russia began expanding and modernizing it. It was vital in Russian efforts to keep Assad in power during the Syrian civil war.

The most recent version of the Russia-Syria contract was signed in 2017 and was supposed to secure Russia’s control over the commercial port for up to 49 years.

• The port was Russia’s only Mediterranean replenishment and repair point.
• This was a vital component of Russia’s power projection into the Mediterranean and Middle East.

The cessation of this treaty will dramatically restrict Russia’s military, political and economic presence in the region.

• Syria has also banned goods entering the country from Russia, reported a Turkish media outlet.

Germany moves in: As Russia and Iran are pushed out of Syria, the way is being paved for Germany’s prophesied advance.

Learn more: Read “Syria’s Fall: Another Key Prophecy Fulfilled.”