Russia to retain limited naval presence at Syria’s Tartus port – report
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Russia is expected to retain a reduced naval presence at Syria’s Tartus port while converting part of its former naval facility into a commercial cargo terminal, according to a report published by The Maritime Executive, citing Syrian commercial sources.
According to executives from the Syrian company Rus Line, one of the two piers that previously formed Russia’s Station 720 naval base will remain under the control of the Russian navy, while Pier 4 will be used to handle Russian commercial cargo.
The report said the remaining commercial sections of Tartus port are now covered by an $800 million, 30-year concession awarded to Dubai-based DP World, replacing the previous Russian operator, Stroytransgaz.
Rus Line reportedly plans to move up to 250,000 tons of cargo per month through the proposed terminal, including wheat, grains, animal feed, vegetable oils, timber, steel, clinker, coal, rice, sugar, and mineral oils. The project also envisions light manufacturing facilities and a regional distribution hub for Russian goods.
The report said the first shipment of 30,000 tons of grain is scheduled for mid-July. It noted that if the grain originates from Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk, the shipments could face legal scrutiny from Ukrainian authorities.
However, Syrian officials from the General Authority for Ports and Customs denied reports that Russia would operate a commercial logistics hub at Tartus, according to the report.
The Maritime Executive reported that most details of the project have emerged from Russian sources, particularly the Russian-Syrian Business Council. It added that an agreement in principle was reportedly reached between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks in Moscow in late January, although neither government has officially confirmed such an agreement.
The reported plans come as Syria seeks to revive its economy following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, while Russia aims to preserve its strategic foothold in the eastern Mediterranean despite the political transition in Damascus.
The report said both countries are looking to expand overland trade routes linking the Mediterranean with Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf states as disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continue to affect regional commerce.
Signs that Moscow intends to maintain a long-term military presence were visible in early June, when three Russian port security vessels were deployed in Tartus to protect the visiting frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov and the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin. Since those vessels departed for Algeria, no additional Russian warships have reportedly called at the base.
Analysts cited by the publication said the proposed commercial corridor could face significant challenges. Any increase in Russian maritime activity between the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and Tartus may become a target for Ukrainian monitoring or sanctions enforcement. In addition, while the United States has eased broad sanctions on Syria, sanctions targeting Russian individuals and entities remain in force, potentially complicating commercial operations involving Russian companies.
Russia established its naval facility in Tartus during the Soviet era and expanded it after intervening militarily in Syria in 2015. Following the collapse of the Assad government, the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria has remained uncertain, although Moscow has repeatedly expressed its intention to preserve strategic ties with the country’s new leadership.