In what has been described as the most important visit since taking office, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’a arrived in Moscow, carrying with him a series of “high-stakes” files, including the future of Russia’s bases in Tartus and Hmeimim, the rearmament of the Syrian army, Damascus’s request for the extradition of former President Bashar al-Assad, and economic dossiers related to investment and energy.

The visit follows a series of diplomatic moves between the two sides, beginning with a visit by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to Damascus, followed by a phone call between the presidents in February, and then visits by the Syrian foreign and defense ministers to Moscow in July. The visit now culminates in al-Shar’a’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a potential turning point in the Damascus-Moscow relationship.