By Abdulsalam Khoja
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Analysts believe that the visit of Asaad al-Shaibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Syrian transitional government, to Moscow marks a turning point in bilateral relations and opens the door to a more balanced political and economic partnership.
Al-Shaibani arrived in the Russian capital a few days ago at the head of an official delegation. During his meetings with Russian officials, he stated that his country is going through a “challenging phase” and expressed Damascus’ hope that Moscow will continue to stand by its side.
Balanced political partnership
Russian analyst Dmitry Bridzhe described the visit as “the beginning of a new and more realistic phase” in bilateral relations, as Damascus seeks to reshape its foreign policy and Moscow adapts to new dynamics that move beyond traditional alliances.
Bridzhe told North Press that the high-level official reception of al-Shaibani reflects the Kremlin’s willingness to engage with Syria’s new leadership “as a partner, not a subordinate,” adding that Russia recognizes that relying solely on Bashar al-Assad is no longer sufficient to achieve stability or protect its interests.
Economic and military cooperation
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the formation of a joint ministerial committee to review economic agreements and expand areas of cooperation.
Bridzhe believes that Moscow is aiming to solidify its strategic presence along the Syrian coast—especially at the Khmeimim Airbase and Tartus Port—ensuring access to the Mediterranean, as well as participating in reconstruction efforts and opening Syrian markets to Russian energy and infrastructure companies.
He noted that security cooperation remains central, particularly in combating armed groups and monitoring American and Turkish movements.
Policy of openness
For his part, Syrian analyst Hossam Taleb described the visit as part of Damascus’ broader policy of opening up to both Eastern and Western countries, and its rejection of rigid alignments. He said the transitional government seeks to “recalibrate its relations with Russia” and strengthen cooperation on economic and military fronts.
Political and economic support
Bridzhe added that Damascus hopes to secure political support that offsets Western pressure, particularly on issues such as transitional justice and international recognition, in addition to economic support through direct investments or Russian mediation.
He believes Moscow is working to cement its role as a key player in reshaping the Syrian landscape amid rapidly evolving regional dynamics.
Interests, not preconditions
Taleb emphasized that the relationship between Damascus and Moscow is built on “mutual interests rather than preconditions.” He pointed out that the majority of Syria’s military hardware is of Russian origin, which necessitates ongoing maintenance—a factor that explains the recent visit by Syria’s defense minister to Moscow.
He added that both sides are seeking to review certain past agreements, some of which were considered “unfair to Syrian sovereignty,” while taking into account the interests of each party.
Taleb also believes that Russia is capable of playing a role in curbing repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, given its relationships with Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.