Aller au contenu principal

Putin ratifies 'indefinite' Russian presence in Syria

Russia to make Tartus naval base permanent, reinforce the Hmeimim air base and grant immunity to Russian forces from prosecution in Syria
Commemorative plates featuring President Assad and Russia's President Putin on sale in Damascus (AFP)
Par AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday approved a law ratifying Moscow's deal with Syria to deploy its forces in the country indefinitely, in a move seen as firming their long-term presence.

The agreement - signed between Moscow and Damascus in August 2015 - allowed Russia to establish its Hmeimim airbase to launch operations in support of ally President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Putin's official signing off on the pact, that lasts for an "indefinite" period, is a legal move that many believe will now pave the way for Moscow to make the base permanent.

The ratification of the deal, which follows votes by both Russia's parliament and senate, comes as tensions with the West spike over Russia's bombing of rebel-held, besieged eastern Aleppo.

Putin in August asked parliament to ratify the deal, which grants Russian forces immunity from prosecution in Syria.

The latest assault by government forces in Aleppo with the support of Russian airpower has sparked Western accusations of potential war crimes.

As relations have slumped, the Kremlin has bolstered its forces in Syria and on Monday announced they would also turn their Soviet-era Tartus naval facility in the country into a permanent base. 

Moscow is currently believed to have some 4,000 personnel stationed at Hmeimim, deep in government-held territory, along with several dozen aircraft.

Middle East Eye propose une couverture et une analyse indépendantes et incomparables du Moyen-Orient, de l’Afrique du Nord et d’autres régions du monde. Pour en savoir plus sur la reprise de ce contenu et les frais qui s’appliquent, veuillez remplir ce formulaire [en anglais]. Pour en savoir plus sur MEE, cliquez ici [en anglais].