Syria’s new leadership has terminated a contract this week with a Russian firm that had overseen the management of the Tartous port for over five years, further diminishing Russian influence in the country following the recent collapse of the previous Assad regime.

Riyad Judi, the director of the customs department in the Tartous governorate, confirmed to the Syrian al-Watan newspaper on Monday that the agreement with the Russian company to operate and invest in the key Mediterranean port has been revoked.

He stated that all port revenues will now be directed to benefit the Syrian state.

Judi also mentioned that the transitional government intends to reduce customs fees at the port by 60%. He highlighted that commercial activities at the port are currently thriving, with Syrian, Arab, international, and transit vessels transporting a variety of goods, including iron, carbonates, and sugar.

The original agreement was established in 2019 between the former Assad administration and the Russian engineering firm Stroytransgaz, granting them management rights for a duration of 49 years. At that time, Syrian Minister of Transport Ali Hammoud indicated that Stroytransgaz would invest over $500 million in the port. Under the terms of the contract, the Russian company was entitled to 65% of the port’s profits, while the Assad government would receive the remaining 35%.

Tartous port is Syria’s second-largest, following Latakia, with an annual capacity of approximately four million tons and around 20,000 containers. It also hosts Russia’s sole naval base in the Mediterranean, which was established by the Soviet Union in 1971 and expanded in 2017, serving as a crucial hub for Russian operations in the region.

Notably, the cancellation of the agreement coincided with the arrival of the Russian cargo ship Sparta II at the port on Tuesday, as reported by the Marine Traffic monitoring service.

Media reports indicate that Syrian authorities permitted the ship to dock at the port after it remained off the Syrian coast for over 14 days due to restrictions set by the new regime.

The vessel is suspected to be transporting military supplies.

Following the rapid takeover by rebel forces and the removal of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, the status of Russia’s military presence in Syria became uncertain. Russia’s other facility in the country is the Khmeimim air base, established in 2015 as part of its military intervention to support Assad’s forces against the rebels. In the aftermath of Assad’s fall, there were numerous sightings of Russian troops and equipment evacuating their bases in Syria, with indications that Russia was reallocating its assets to other regions in the Middle East, including Libya.

On December 12, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stated that Russia was in direct communication with the new Syrian authorities to ensure the continuation of its military bases in the country. However, the new Syrian government has not yet made a public decision on this matter.