The Syrian government has canceled a 2019 agreement with Russia that allowed a Russian company to operate Tartus Port for 49 years. Tartus Customs Director Riad Judy confirmed the termination, stating, “All revenues from the port’s activities will now serve the interests of the Syrian state.”
The original deal, signed under Bashar al-Assad, granted Russia 65% of the port’s profits and required a $500 million investment in modernization. The cancellation is seen as an effort to reduce Russian influence in Syria and impacts Moscow’s military presence in the region, particularly its naval base at Tartus, a strategic hub for operations in the Mediterranean.
Recent satellite imagery suggests Russia may be withdrawing assets from the port, following the arrival of the Russian cargo ship “Sparta II.”