Al-Shara revealed that his government is negotiating agreements with both Turkey and Russia, and that Damascus could have military support from both sides in the future. He acknowledged that the Turkish and Russian military presence in Syria is a reality, adding that previous agreements with other countries have been canceled, and the government is currently seeking to develop new agreements, with an openness to purchasing additional weapons from Russia and other countries.

The acting president announced that Syria has informed the relevant parties that any military presence in the country must be within the legal framework, and emphasized that the new agreements should guarantee the nation’s independence and stability, without foreign presence becoming a threat to any other country.

Al-Shara stated that the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government led to significant changes in the regional security system, prompting many countries in the region and Europe to express a keen interest in Syria’s stability.

Regarding the relationship with Russia, the president noted that Moscow has provided weapons to the Syrian army for decades, and that Damascus may need Russian support again amid the current lack of offers to replace Russian weapons. Syria has relied for years on agreements with Russia, including in food and energy, and almost all Syrian weapons are manufactured in the Slavic country, which requires taking these interests into account, he clarified.

Regarding the demand that Moscow hand over ousted President Bashar al-Assad as a condition for its continued military presence, Al-Shara stated that Russia rejected this request.

On the other hand, the president called on the United States to lift the sanctions and considered that the current phase requires a change in Washington’s approach toward Damascus. He declined to go into the details of the US conditions, saying that some need to be discussed or amended before proceeding with any potential agreement.

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