Russia plans to establish a commercial logistics base at Syria's Tartus port

Syrian officials announced that Russia aims to open a commercial logistics center at its naval base in Tartus by mid-July. The Tartus Port Authority, however, denied these claims.

Scraper SystemJuly 09, 2026, 08:41 PM

Russia plans to establish a commercial logistics base at Syria's Tartus port

Russia is preparing to convert part of the military base it leases at Syria's Tartus port into a commercial logistics center. Syrian sources stated that the project is planned to become operational by mid-July.

The center is initially expected to handle a wide range of products, including wheat, grains, animal feed, vegetable oil, timber, steel, clinker, coal, rice, sugar, and mineral oils, with a monthly cargo capacity of 250,000 tons. The project is being carried out in cooperation between the Syrian logistics company Rus Line and Russian companies under the Russia-Syria Business Council.

Ossama Ajaj, General Manager of Rus Line and Advisor to the Russia-Syria Business Council, stated that the center will operate at berth number 4 of Tartus port, within the 'restricted area' of the naval base. The other berth will continue to be reserved for Russian naval operations.

Ajaj said the project took shape during a meeting in Moscow in January between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that the meeting was a turning point in revitalizing economic cooperation. The planned center aims to establish a regular sea route between Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and Tartus, and to distribute goods to Syria and neighboring countries. Iraq and Jordan have been identified as primary target markets, while Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain are also being targeted.

Port Authority Denial

Tartus Port Authority spokesperson Mazen Alloush described reports that Russia would operate a commercial logistics center at the port as 'completely baseless'. Alloush stressed that any project or agreement concerning Syria's ports and border crossings would be announced only through official government channels.

US Concerns

The US is closely monitoring Russia's commercial and logistics projects in Syria. A US State Department official said, 'We are closely monitoring Russia-backed commercial and logistics projects and are concerned that such initiatives may not contribute to stability in the country.' The official stated that the US encourages Syria to work with 'reliable institutional partners – especially US firms' in the reconstruction process and urged Damascus to comply with sanctions against Russia. Congressman Joe Wilson also added an amendment to the Pentagon budget last month requiring an assessment of options to reduce Russia's influence in Syria.

Russia's Economic Influence Strategy

As the future of its military presence in Syria is debated, Russia is trying to maintain its influence through economic channels. Eighty-five percent of Syria's imported wheat – 2.9 million tons for the 2025-26 season – comes from Russia and Russian-annexed Crimea. Syria's dependence on Russian crude oil has also increased; approximately 16.8 million barrels of Russian oil were imported in 2025.

A classified report submitted by Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, to the presidential administration in December 2025 recommended increasing support for economic actors that could strengthen Russian influence in Syria. The report reportedly identified Luay Yusuf, Chairman of the Russia-Syria Business Council, as a key figure in this strategy.

Nanar Havach, senior Syria adviser at the International Crisis Group, said, 'Russia's dominance over Syria rests on what it supplies and sustains, and on its United Nations Security Council vote, which remains effective longer than a troop withdrawal.' Havach added that the logistics role strengthens Russia's hand by keeping it physically at the port while the base's future is being determined.

Russia plans to establish a commercial logistics base at Syria's Tartus port

Syrian officials announced that Russia aims to open a commercial logistics center at its naval base in Tartus by mid-July. The Tartus Port Authority, however, denied these claims.