Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1944.
Currently, they rely on the basic Soviet-Syrian treaty of 1980.
For the first time, Syria turned to the USSR for military and economic assistance in 1955. In November 1956, the first visit of Syrian President Shukri Kuatli to the USSR took place. A month later, the first 60 Soviet specialists were sent to Syria; at the same time, under a direct interstate agreement, supplies of a wide range of weapons and military equipment, as well as training of Syrian military specialists in the Soviet Union began.
In 1971, the Soviet Navy’s naval base was established in the Syrian port of Tartus.
In 1980, the USSR and Syria signed an Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation under which the countries pledged to cooperate and coordinate their actions in the event of a threat to the peace and security of one of the parties.
In 1994, a Protocol on the development of trade, economic and technical cooperation was signed, according to which the Permanent Russian-Syrian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was established. In the same year, military-technical cooperation intensified (after a 3-year break) when a corresponding agreement was signed in Damascus.
In September 2004, the bilateral Russian-Syrian Business Council (RSBC) was set up in Damascus under the auspices of the Russian-Arab Business Council.
On October 21, 2015, the Presidents of Russia and Syria, Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad, held talks in Moscow. Since 2015, Russia, acting in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the USSR and the Syrian Arab Republic of October 8, 1980, has been providing assistance to Syria in the fight against illegal armed groups.
Rostec State Corporation has a representative office in Syria that ensures Rosoboronexport's interests.
