Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Syria were established in July 1944 and are currently based on the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation as of 1980.

Syria first turned to the USSR for military-economic assistance in 1955. In November 1956, Syrian President Shukri Kuatli paid his first visit to the USSR. A month later the first 60 Soviet specialists were sent to Syria. Then a direct interstate agreement began the supplies of a wide range of weapons and military equipment as well as training programmes for Syrian military specialists in the Soviet Union.

In 1971, the Soviet Union was allowed to open its naval military base in Tartus.

In 1980, Syria and the Soviet Union signed a twenty-year Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. According to the Treaty the countries pledged to cooperate and coordinate their actions in case of a threat to peace and security of one of the parties.

The Protocol on the Development of Trade, Economic and Technical cooperation was signed in 1994. In accordance with the protocol a permanent Russian-Syrian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical cooperation was then established. In the same year a military-technical cooperation between the countries intensified (after a 3 year break), as a result of a corresponding agreement signed in Damascus.

In September 2004, bilateral Russian-Syrian Business Council (RSDU) was established in Damascus under the guidance of the Russian-Arab Business Council.

Since 2015, Russia in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation sighed between the USSR and the Syrian Arab Republic on October 8, 1980 has been helping Syria to fight illegal military groups.

There is a representative office of the State Corporation Rostec in Syria, which ensures the interests of Rosoboronexport. Rep office’s contacts – phone: (+96311) 333-26-39, fax: (+96311) 333-26-39, е-mail: rep4340@rostec.ru