Russia is planning to launch a commercial logistics hub at the Syrian port of Tartous by mid-July, according to Syrian officials. The hub will handle a wide range of Russian goods, including wheat and grains, and target initial cargo volumes of around 250,000 tons per month.
Russia’s Influence in Syria
The project is part of Russia’s efforts to maintain and expand its influence in Syria through economic channels. Moscow has backed Syria for decades and intervened militarily in 2015 to support former President Bashar al-Assad. Since Assad’s overthrow in 2024, Damascus has sought closer ties with Western and Gulf countries, while cooperating with Moscow in areas including energy and food imports and military ties.
The logistics hub will operate from Pier No. 4 at Tartous port, in a restricted zone of the naval base. The other berth remains dedicated to Russian naval operations. The project aims to establish a regular maritime route between Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and Tartous, from where goods will be distributed across Syria and neighboring countries.
US Concerns
The US is watching the development closely, with Congressman Joe Wilson securing an amendment to the Pentagon budget to assess options for reducing Russia’s influence in Syria. A US State Department official said the US is encouraging Syria to engage with trusted corporate partners, especially US firms, during the country’s recovery and reconstruction.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
