Illustrative image. (Syrian Presidency)
Senior Syrian officials have told the United States they are willing to significantly reduce Russian oil imports as they discuss Washington’s removal of Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism (SST), Reuters reported on August 4, citing Syrian and American sources.
The U.S. reportedly did not explicitly frame the reduction as a precondition for lifting the designation, though the Syrian source said American officials told their counterparts that ending Russian oil purchases would “improve the chances of lifting the SST designation quickly and without complications.”
Russian oil shipments to Syria jumped 75% to about 60,000 barrels per day this year, according to Reuters, which noted that although this is a very small share of Russia’s daily global oil exports, it still made Moscow the dominant crude supplier to the country.
A Syrian energy official told the news agency Damascus was already seeking new suppliers and that a “radical change” was expected.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump informed Congress of his intent to remove Syria from the SST list, triggering a 45-day notification period. Congress has also directed the Pentagon to assess options for reducing Russia’s influence in Syria, including securing the departure of Russian forces from a naval base in Tartus and an air base in Hmeimim.
Syria’s new Islamist-led government has engaged in talks with Moscow at the highest levels shortly after its formation following the collapse of the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad. However, it has not yet approved any agreement guaranteeing the future of the two Russian bases on the coast.
During an interview with Al Jazeera last month, President Ahmad al-Sharaa outlined Syria’s relationship with Moscow, highlighting significant shared interests and noting that Damascus has moved quickly to “open a new chapter” in bilateral ties.
Addressing the future of Moscow’s military presence, Sharaa stated that discussions regarding Russian bases in the country remain ongoing.
According to al-Sharaa, both sides have reached an agreement in principle to dismantle the majority of Russian military posts while maintaining a limited presence at Tartus and Hmeimim. However, final details concerning the long-term status of this scaled-back presence are still under negotiation, according to the Syrian president.
Sharaa stressed that Syria’s ties with Russia are grounded in strategic interests—specifically spanning energy, food security, and defense procurement.
He further reaffirmed that Damascus seeks to safeguard its core national interests by reshaping the bilateral relationship on new foundations rooted in mutual respect.
Still, the recent report by Reuters reflects a completely different picture. It shows that Damascus is willing to sacrifice its beneficial relations with Moscow to appease the U.S.
As for the Russian military presence in Syria, Sharaa — despite his repeated positive remarks toward Russia — may simply be waiting to widen his international legitimacy and strengthen his ties with the West before demanding a withdrawal from Moscow.
His decision to forgo cheaper Russian oil in an attempt to appease Washington suggests that, for the Syrian president, relations with Moscow are merely a temporary bargaining chip.
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