Russia to Establish a Naval Base in Syria’s Tartous, Double the Freight Traffic

Russian newspapers report that Russia is spending large amounts of money to develop the Syrian port of Tartous, and to establish a military naval base there.

The investment of Russian venture capitalists would lead to an “increase in transport and freight traffic 10 times in Tartous port”, Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta quoted Russian the Ambassador to Syria Alexander Yevimov, while doubling this shipping movement “will be from 4 million tons to 38 million tons per year.”

The newspaper added that Russia intends to turn the supply and maintenance point in Tartous port into a military naval base by modernizing its military fleet supply and to maintain its ships in the Syrian port.

As there was earlier an agreement reached between Moscow and Damascus on allowing the presence of 11 Russian naval vessels at the port of Tartous at one time”.

While, Last April, a private Russian company acquired the investment and development of Tartous Harbour for a 49 years term, at a cost of about $500 million.