Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will travel to Moscow on Wednesday for high-level talks with Russian officials, in a visit that could reshape the future of Syria–Russia relations and define Moscow’s enduring military role in the war-torn country.

According to state-run Syria TV, al-Sharaa’s visit — his first official trip to Russia since assuming office — will focus on the continued operation of Russia’s naval base in Tartous and Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia province, both critical to Moscow’s Mediterranean strategy.

A senior Syrian government source told the broadcaster that al-Sharaa will also formally request the extradition of former president Bashar al-Assad, who was granted political asylum in Russia following his ouster. The interim leadership seeks to bring Assad to trial for alleged war crimes and human rights violations committed during his decades-long rule.

“The extradition issue will be among the most sensitive topics of discussion,” the official said. “It is a test of the strength and transparency of Syrian–Russian relations in this new political phase.”

Moscow, which served as Assad’s primary backer during Syria’s civil war, has maintained a strong military footprint in the country since 2015. Despite Assad’s fall, Russia has signaled its intention to preserve its long-term strategic presence in the eastern Mediterranean, especially through its Tartous and Hmeimim installations.

Analysts say al-Sharaa’s visit will probe how far Moscow is willing to adapt its partnership to the new Syrian leadership — and whether it will cooperate in the transitional justice process sought by Damascus.

“The visit is a balancing act,” said a regional analyst in Beirut. “Al-Sharaa needs Russia’s support to stabilize Syria politically and militarily, but he also cannot ignore public pressure to hold the former regime accountable.”

The visit coincides with what observers describe as one of Russia’s largest resupply operations in Syria since early 2022. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that in recent days, at least nine Russian Antonov A124 cargo planes landed at Hmeimim Airbase, carrying heavy weaponry, logistics equipment, and advanced air-defense systems.

Additionally, four military convoys departed from the Tartous naval base toward Hmeimim, transporting fuel tankers, trucks, and armored vehicles along the coastal highway. Witnesses noted that the movements appeared tightly coordinated — underscoring Moscow’s commitment to fortifying its military corridor between the two bases.

Military experts interpret these deployments as a sign that Russia is reasserting its dominance in the eastern Mediterranean amid shifting regional dynamics and heightened Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian territory.

While Russia has expressed a desire to maintain its presence and influence, it also faces growing international pressure to support accountability measures and ensure that its role in Syria aligns with the country’s evolving political reality.

The outcome of al-Sharaa’s meetings could mark a defining moment in post-Assad Syria, setting the tone for Damascus’s relations not only with Moscow but also with regional powers seeking a stable, unified Syrian state. (ILKHA)