Sergei Naryshkin describes meeting as “constructive and friendly”
MOSCOW: Russia’s foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin confirmed that he held a “constructive and friendly meeting” with a Syrian intelligence representative last week in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS.
The report, published Friday, provided no further details regarding the identity of the Syrian official or the specific agenda of the talks. However, the development underscores Russia’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its strategic position in Syria, where it maintains both an air base in Khmeimim and a naval facility in Tartus.
Naryshkin, who heads Russia’s SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service), emphasized the positive tone of the encounter. The lack of further information has fueled speculation among regional analysts that the conversation may have touched on military coordination, intelligence-sharing, and broader regional security issues.
Strategic Importance of Syria to Russia
Russia has been one of the strongest international backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout the country’s prolonged civil war. The Kremlin’s intervention in 2015 played a pivotal role in shifting the balance of power in Assad’s favor. Since then, Moscow has worked to entrench its military and political influence in Syria and the broader Middle East.
Analysts suggest the Baku meeting could be part of Russia’s bid to pre-empt shifting alliances and reinforce its regional foothold amid increased geopolitical competition and changing dynamics in Syria’s northeast, where U.S. and Turkish interests also remain active.
Russia-Syria Intelligence Cooperation
This is not the first time Russian and Syrian intelligence officials have engaged in quiet diplomacy. Such meetings are typically kept out of the public eye and are believed to address issues ranging from counterterrorism to arms coordination and support for joint operations.
TASS did not clarify whether the Baku talks included discussions on the ongoing conflict in Idlib, Syrian refugee repatriation, or the status of Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria.
The use of Baku as a neutral venue highlights Azerbaijan’s growing role as a discreet host for sensitive geopolitical discussions, especially involving regional powers such as Russia, Iran, and Turkey.
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Categories: Geopolitics, Intelligence & Security, Russia-Middle East Relations
Tags: Sergei Naryshkin, SVR Russia, Syria intelligence, Baku meeting, Russian military Syria, TASS news
