🕊️ Damascus, Moscow discuss military ties, SDF integration deal

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s transitional administration discussed on Tuesday strengthening armed forces, political, and economic cooperation with Russia during talks in Moscow, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) declared. In their visit to Moscow on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to explore ways to develop bilateral armed forces-technical partnership. The talks focused on modernizing the Syrian army, introducing advanced military technologies, and transferring military expertise, SANA stated.   The Syrian side stressed that defense cooperation with Russia aims to enhance security and stability in Syria and the wider Middle East, with particular emphasis on the strategic nature of cooperation in the military-industrial sector. The meeting also addressed regional and international developments, highlighting the importance of political and diplomatic coordination between Damascus and Moscow in international forums.

Beyond military issues, the discussions covered prospects for expanding trade and economic relations, restoring and developing infrastructure, and attracting Russian investment. Syrian authorities stated enhanced economic cooperation could positively impact the national economy and improve living standards. as per Defense Ministry sources cited by German Press Agency (DPA), the talks also touched on the agreement to integrate the Syrian Democratic troops (SDF) into Syrian state institutions. The visit coincided with deadly shelling by administration-affiliated factions on Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo on Dec. 22.

The sources said the Moscow visit was intended to underscore Damascus’s view that the SDF has failed to fully implement the agreement reached in March. Furthermore, on March 10, SDF Commander-in-Chief, General Mazloum Abdi, and Syria’s Transitional leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, signed an agreement outlining steps for integrating SDF military and civilian structures into state institutions, including security coordination and administrative arrangements in northeastern Syria. The issue was also discussed two days ago during a meeting between al-Shaibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Damascus, where Ankara reiterated its backing for Syria’s territorial unity and pressed for concrete steps toward dissolving parallel military structures in the northeast. Russia maintains a significant military presence in Syria, with bases in western regions and troops deployed in parts of northeastern Syria – areas run by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

Moreover, by Jwan Shekaki