According to Russian military officials, the country plans to expand the naval base in Tartus port and tends to build a floating dock to strengthen ship repair facilities in the port.

The move by Russia comes just weeks after its military expanded one of its airport runways and added it to its military facilities in the eastern Mediterranean.

Quoting military officials, the Russian news agency of TASS reported that floating pier is scheduled to be completed next year.

According to Western military officials, improved repair facilities at the Tartus base will help the Russian navy not to send its ships in the Black Sea to maintain its facilities.

Four years ago, after Russia rented the Tartus naval facility from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, the facility officially began operating as a technical support center, not a military base.

The agreement changed between Moscow and Syria in 2017 in order to let Russia to support Assad government. The agreement allows Russia to use the facilities of this naval facility for free and as a military base for 49 years.

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