Syria is open to allowing Russia to maintain its air and naval bases along the Mediterranean coast, provided that any agreement with the Kremlin aligns with the country’s interests, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra stated in an interview this week with the Washington Post.

According to Abu Qasra, Russia’s approach towards the new Syrian government has “improved significantly” since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December, and Damascus is currently considering Moscow’s demands.

“In politics, there are no permanent enemies,” he said of Moscow. When asked if Russia would be allowed to maintain its naval port at Tartous and the Hmeimim air base in Latakia, Abu Qasra added: “If we get benefits for Syria out of this, yes.”

The defense minister also discussed Syria’s efforts to establish new military and political partnerships, ongoing negotiations with US-backed Kurdish forces, and a plan to unify the country’s numerous armed factions under one command.