ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday received Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, with the meeting focusing on military, economic, and political partnerships between Moscow and Damascus.

"Discussions focused on upgrading military equipment, transferring technical expertise and know-how, and expanding cooperation in research and development," Syrian state media reported after the meeting.

The two sides also addressed "prospects for expanding economic and trade cooperation, including support for reconstruction projects, development of infrastructure sectors, and encouragement of investment in Syria," SANA said, adding that Putin reaffirmed Moscow's "steadfast support" for Syria.

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with his Russian counterpart Putin in his first official visit to Moscow in October, with the pair highlighting the importance of normalizing bilateral ties and Moscow’s continued cooperation in Damascus’ oil sector, as well as discussing Russian military presence in Syria.

The two presidents' October meeting saw Sharaa assert that his government is aiming to rebuild “relations with all regional and international countries,” with Putin stressing that Russia has never “put narrow interests or the current political situation in its calculations towards Syria,” according to Syrian state media.

Sharaa also said that “a significant part” of Syria’s energy sector relies on Russia, noting that Damascus respects all former economic agreements signed with Moscow. 

Russia was one of the main backers of Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. The fall of Assad has been deemed a major setback for Moscow in the Middle East.

The Kremlin announced a day after Assad’s ousting that Putin had personally granted asylum to Assad and his family. Russian state media reported that the asylum was granted on “humanitarian” grounds.

Russia has maintained a military presence in the Hmeimim air base in the province of Latakia, the port city of Tartus, and Qamishli airport in northeast Syria (Rojava).

Throughout Syria's decade-long conflict, Moscow was an ardent supporter of Assad and provided the former president with necessary economic and military support to stay in power and counter Western sanctions on the country.