The new authorities in Syria have seriously embarked on reshaping the country's military infrastructure. It is reported that the administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa is planning to take the Khmeimim airbase back from Russia and turn it into a training centre for the national army.
According to a source of the Kommersant publication in Damascus, the option of using the base not as a fully military facility, but in a "jointly managed" format mainly performing non-military tasks is also being considered.
According to the source, a large part of the current Syrian army consists of former rebels who have not undergone full military training. For this reason, the base located in the Latakia province is being assessed as a convenient site for training military personnel.
At the same time, according to Al-Modon sources, Damascus also plans to engage Russian military instructors. This decision is explained by the continuing predominance of Soviet- and Russian-made equipment in the army. However, the matter mainly concerns the training of ground forces — aviation training is not on the agenda.
According to information, after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Russia withdrew many of its strategic weapons from these bases, including S-300 and S-400 air defence systems and "Bastion" missiles. According to Anton Mardasov, an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, this has significantly reduced the military importance of the base.
For now, Russia is being allowed to use the Khmeimim airbase for logistical purposes on the African route. However, depending on the political situation, this arrangement may change.
It is worth recalling that in January of this year, Damascus also demanded that Russia withdraw its forces from the Qamishli base.
In short, in Syria, the military balance and external influences are being redistributed. Decisions around Khmeimim may affect the geopolitical future not only of the country, but of the entire region.
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