February 7
Citing an improvement in Russia-Syrian relations, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said his country will consider retaining Russian bases if it is in the country’s interest.
“If we get benefits for Syria out of this, yes,” he told The Washington Post in response to a related question. Abu Qasra added that Syrian-Russia relations have “improved significantly” because “in politics, there are no permanent enemies. Perhaps relations with them [Russia] will be restored in a way that serves Syria’s interests first and then their interests."https://tass.com/defense/1909873
