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Syria's foreign and defense ministers met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss expanding military, political and economic cooperation, with a focus on strategic collaboration in defense industries, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.
Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra discussed ways to develop military cooperation to strengthen the Syrian army's defensive capabilities, including by modernizing equipment and transferring expertise, SANA reported.
Economically, the meeting addressed prospects for expanding economic and trade cooperation, including support for reconstruction projects, development of infrastructure sectors, and encouragement of investment in Syria. The talks also covered boosting trade exchange and facilitating partnerships in ways that positively impact the Syrian economy and contribute to improving living conditions, according to SANA.
According to SANA, President Putin reaffirmed Russia’s steadfast support for Syria, stressing the importance of preserving Syria’s unity, territorial integrity, and full sovereignty, and rejecting any projects aimed at partitioning the country or undermining its independent national decision. He also renewed Moscow’s condemnation of repeated Israeli violations of Syrian territory, describing them as a direct threat to regional security and stability, according to SANA.
In October, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa paid an official visit to Russia, where he said his government would honor all past deals struck between Damascus and Moscow, a pledge that suggested Russia's two main military bases in Syria were secure, according to Reuters. Putin said at the time that Moscow was ready to do all it could to act on what he called "many interesting and useful beginnings" discussed by the two sides on renewing relations.