Syrian authorities have terminated a 49-year-old agreement with Russia regarding the port of Tartus

The new Syrian administration has terminated a 49-year agreement with a Russian company to manage the port of Tartus.

The agreement, signed in 2019 for 49 years, has ceased to be valid, Riad Judi, the director of the Tartus provincial customs department, said in an interview with Al Watan.

The new Syrian authorities have terminated the agreement to manage the seaport of Tartus, concluded with Russia’s Budtransgaz.

“The agreement on investments in the port of Tartus with the Russian company has been canceled. All income from the port’s activities will be used for the benefit of the Syrian state,” Judi commented.

Former Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hamoud said that the agreement with the Russian company provided for the management of the port and investments in its modernization of more than $ 500 million, which Russia, however, never made.

One of the Russian military bases in Syria is located in Tartus – a logistics point for the Russian Navy.

USM previously reported that the Russian “Syrian Express” ship Sparta II has entered the port of Tartus. It is likely that the ship will be loaded with Russian military equipment before the final evacuation of Russian troops from Syria.