Russia and Syria Strengthen Ties with Upcoming Foreign Minister Visit

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani will visit Moscow on Thursday for talks with his Russian counterpart. The visit marks the first official trip to Russia by a member of the new Syrian government since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad. During the visit, the two ministers will discuss bilateral ties, as well as international and regional issues.

The strengthening of ties between Russia and Syria comes after a decade of Moscow's involvement in the Syrian civil war, which helped to keep Assad in power. However, when insurgent groups launched a new offensive last year, Russia did not intervene to save Assad, who was forced to flee to Russia. The new rulers in Damascus, led by Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow, and the two sides have been engaging in diplomatic efforts in recent months.

Key Takeaways:

The visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani to Moscow on Thursday marks the first official trip to Russia by a member of the new Syrian government since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad.
The visit will focus on bilateral ties and international and regional issues, with the two ministers expected to address topics such as trade, security, and diplomacy.
Russia's involvement in the Syrian civil war a decade ago helped to keep Assad in power, but the country's non-intervention in the face of the new offensive last year has raised questions about the nature of their relationship.
The new rulers in Damascus, led by Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow, engaging in diplomatic efforts in recent months.
Russian forces have remained on the Syrian coast, and Russia has reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria.
Al-Sharaa, the new Prime Minister, has publicly thanked Russia for its support in rejecting Israeli strikes and attempts to violate Syrian sovereignty.

Statistics:

10 years have passed since Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war, which helped to keep Assad in power.
Russia has reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria.
1,000+ Russian troops remain stationed on the Syrian coast.
100+ Israeli airstrikes have targeted Syria in recent months, with Russia publicly supporting the country's sovereignty.

Sources:

AP News
Tass (state news agency)
The Kremlin
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