Russia reacts to Germany’s call to remove Syrian bases
Maria Zakharova urged Annalena Baerbock to address the US presence in her own country after the latter called for a Russian withdrawal from Syria | Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has criticized German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for her demand that Russia withdraw its military bases from Syria. Zakharova, speaking on her Telegram channel on Friday, has urged Baerbock to instead address the presence of US military bases in Germany. 💬 “This is being said by the foreign minister of a country that hosts US military bases. I have a question: when will the German foreign minister say something similar to Washington?” Zakharova wrote in response to Baerbock’s statement. Baerbock’s remarks followed her visit to Damascus on Friday, where she and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot became the first EU ministers to visit Syria since President Bashar Assad was overthrown.
■ Diplomat calls on top German diplomat to stop speculating about Russian bases in Syria (TASS)
■ Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia (Al Mayadeen)