Russia quietly restores strategic naval base in Syria
Russian Navy warship (Photo: Russian media)
Russia has begun the process of restoring its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus. The Kremlin's fleet is again establishing itself in the strategically important region after the withdrawal of the Americans, according to the specialized maritime portal The Maritime Executive.
Recent maneuvers of Russian ships indicate preparations for long-term basing after a long pause, the portal notes. For a long time, the Russian presence in the region was minimal, with only one corvette, the Stoykiy (F545), at sea.
However, its route turned out to be strange: the ship circumnavigated all of Africa and participated in exercises in Cape Town. It made stops in the Seychelles and Iran. Instead of returning home after an exhausting voyage, the corvette remained off the Syrian coast.
Previously, Russian voyages to Syria resembled routine port calls. Now, ships are occupying berths on a permanent basis. The "Stoikiy" has been sitting at piers designated for the permanent fleet for weeks.
The political situation in Damascus is also favoring the Russians. In December 2024, the military agreements were suspended, but now they have been restored. This was facilitated by the withdrawal of the last American units from Syria in mid-April. Now Russian military personnel feel like masters of the Syrian coast, the article states.
Secret convoy and masking at sea
The main evidence of the base's restoration is the movement of a large logistics convoy. It is escorted by the powerful frigate "Admiral Kasatonov" (F461). This is a modern warship with significant armament. The group includes three vessels that are already under international sanctions.
The convoy includes the following vessels:
- The tanker/product carrier General Skobelev;
- The cargo ship Sparta;
- The oil tanker Akademik Pashin.
These ships usually transport weapons and military resources, and their behavior at sea is highly suspicious. For example, the tanker General Skobelev deliberately spoofs its AIS signals. The ship pretends to still be in the Baltic Sea, even though it has already passed the Strait of Gibraltar. Experts are confident that the convoy is heading precisely to Tartus.
What else is relevant about Syria
For Syria, Russia has become its main oil supplier. As we have already reported, oil supplies from Russia to Syria in 2026 increased by 75% — to approximately 60,000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, Germany wants to return hundreds of thousands of refugees to Syria. This topic was discussed at a meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
