Russia’s Alliance with Syria at Risk as New Leader Sets Conditions
In a recent development, Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has issued an ultimatum to Russia regarding the continued presence of its military bases in Syria. Al-Sharaa has demanded that Russia extradite former President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow on December 8, 2024, following a successful offensive by rebel forces that led to the toppling of his regime.
During a meeting in Damascus, al-Sharaa emphasized that ongoing cooperation with Moscow is contingent upon “concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction, and recovery.” This includes financial reparations and support for rebuilding the war-torn nation.
The new Syrian administration has also called for Russia to apologize for its past support of the Assad regime and to provide reparations to “rebuild trust.”
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the demands for Assad’s extradition and compensation. However, Russian officials have described recent discussions with Syria as “frank,” indicating ongoing negotiations regarding the future of Russian military installations in the country