Russia Expands Its Naval Base In Syria

Although the Kremlin has declared victory against terrorists in Syria and called on Russian troops to return home, Russia will keep its naval base operational in Syria’s second largest port city of Tartous for another 49 years.

An agreement was ratified by the Russian State Duma (parliament) on December 21 that allows for Russia to expand its naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartous, and expand it by building two extra piers that allow up to 11 vessels dock simultaneously, including nuclear-powered ships.

“Technically, the Russian Navy’s base in Tartous still remains as a point of logistics fleet maintenance. Only now Russia has the opportunity to expand it to take up to 11 ships, including cruisers," Pavel Luzin, head of the Under Mad Trends research company, told Caspian News.

"In fact, this expansion is done to maintain the existing operational connection of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, which exists since 2013.

The agreement exempts the Russians from the civilian and administrative powers of Damascus, which means that Russia will be able to use the naval facility without paying any costs to the government, and is allowed to operate from it without Damascus’ approval.

"The duration of the agreement is 49 years, it can be automatically prolonged for a period of 25 years in case none of the parties sends a written notification to the other at least one year before a period expires concerning its intention to terminate the agreement," the document reads.

Russia sees Tartous as being strategically important because it provides Moscow with access to the Mediterranean Sea. Its presence dates back to 1971, when it was in charge of a much smaller territory there. Russia has used Tartous as a southern terminal for Russian supply convoys since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, when the government of Bashar Al Assad battled opposition groups with the support of Russian warplanes.

“Russian Navy’s base extension will strengthen the operational capabilities of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean and in general the position of Russia in the Middle East,” said the former chief of the Main Staff of the Navy, Admiral Viktor Kravchenko.

Some say Russia is using its presence in Syria, including the naval base, as a springboard for its comeback as a global power.

“The Kremlin is in a confrontation with the West, and is trying to [show] the status of a great power through this confrontation. It means that ships off the coast of Syria are not needed to contain the West, but simply to strengthen Russia's diplomatic assets in an effort to impose their conditions on the U.S. and Europe,” said Luzin.

“Russia is ready to stretch its hand to anyone who has negative relations with the U.S.” Luzin said.