Al-Sharaa Says Full Sovereignty Is Damascus’ Objective
Syria is seeking to eliminate foreign military bases from its territory, President Ahmad al-Sharaa said during an Atlantic Council event. According to the Syrian leader, ending the foreign military presence would allow the country to exercise “complete and pure sovereignty.”
The statement comes as Damascus reassesses its military relations with Russia and Turkey, both of which maintained significant military positions in Syria during the rule of Bashar al-Assad.
Russia Has Sharply Reduced Its Military Footprint
Al-Sharaa said Russia previously operated approximately 170 military bases in Syria before the change in government. Since the Assad regime was overthrown, that number has fallen to only two.
“They had around 170 military bases, and now there are only two bases,” the Syrian president said.
The remaining Russian facilities — Hmeimim Air Base and the Tartus Naval Base — are no longer expected to serve as platforms for launching or supporting military operations abroad. Following lengthy discussions, Damascus and Moscow agreed to convert the facilities into centers dedicated to training the Syrian army.
In August, Syria and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to transform the two bases into “joint training and qualification centers.”
Damascus Is Also Reviewing Turkey’s Military Presence
Syria has also reduced the number of military bases operated by neighboring Turkey, Al-Sharaa said. He did not specify how many Turkish facilities were present previously or how many remain today.
During the Assad era, Turkey maintained troops and observation posts in northern and northwestern Syria. Ankara described the deployment as necessary to protect its border and prevent the infiltration of terrorist organizations and armed militias.
Remaining Turkish Bases Could Receive Legal Status
Al-Sharaa noted that the Turkish bases had not previously been approved by the Syrian parliament. Damascus is now considering granting a legal framework to any Turkish facilities that remain in the country.
“Any presence, or any foreign presence, should be under the endorsement of the People’s Assembly and have a legal status,” the Syrian president said.
The position reflects the new government’s intention to place all foreign military activity under Syrian institutional oversight and to address deployments that it considers unauthorized.
Syria Wants Diplomatic Relations Instead of Foreign Troops
Al-Sharaa said Damascus would soon have no need for foreign forces or military bases belonging to other countries.
Instead, Syria intends to pursue relations based on diplomacy, mutual respect and cooperation with neighboring states and its international partners.
The objective outlined by the Syrian president is to place the country’s territory entirely under state authority, without foreign bases capable of supporting military operations against other nations.
