Description: Russian diesel – powered submarines and other military equipment have been identified to leave the port of Tartus as the Russian withdrawal from Syria continues. The interim Syrian government had nullified the 49 – year lease signed for the usage of Syrian ports between Russia and Bashar al – Assad’s regime which has seriously decreased the operability of Russian naval forces in the Mediterranean. Reports indicated that Libya or possibly Algeria were the next destinations for Russia’s navy, however it all depended on the willingness and cooperability of the respected local governments. The last military base left that is still operational is the air base in the Syrian port of Latakia which is also expected to be vacated.
Impact: With Bashar al – Assad’s fall, Russia substantially lost its military and operational capabilities in Syria and thus in the Mediterranean Sea. With its growing ground presence in the Sahel region, Russia would seek to compensate the losses with enhanced presence in the central African countries. Although a significant blow to Russia’s geostrategic interests in the region, the withdrawal wouldn’t inflict any long – term repercussions on Russia’s interests in Africa. Geopolitically strained with the war against Ukraine, Russia would look to reposition all military equipment in order to enhance operational presence in the central parts of the African continent.