As the United States and Israeli attacks enter the six weeks, with a tenuous cease-fire in place, the State Department said that the Trump Administration remained committed to making the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity—known as TRIPP—a reality.
“The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity remains a top priority for the United States, with the potential to unleash peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus region and beyond. The Trump Administration remains committed to making TRIPP a reality,’’ the State Department spokesperson told the Armenpress, following an inquiry from the state-run news agency on Friday.
At the onset of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had lamented publically that the war would delay the TRIPP project.
The State Department spokesperson noted that TRIPP is a multimodal transit area which will connect the main part of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, “fully respecting Armenian sovereignty and territorial integrity while providing reciprocal connectivity benefits for Armenia.”
“It will allow unimpeded international and intrastate connectivity in the region, expanding opportunities for increased economic growth and prosperity,” the spokesperson added.
“Azerbaijan will gain connectivity to its Nakhchivan exclave, while Armenia will benefit from improved regional connectivity, which will unleash the economic potential of the South Caucasus while preserving Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction,” the spokesperson said.
The State Department also noted that Armenia is working with the United States and mutually- determined third parties to implement the TRIPP.
”To help kick-start TRIPP and related arrangements, the United States has made an initial commitment of $145 million, which will unlock regional stability and economic growth. These funds will support investments in trade, infrastructure, and cross-border security in Armenia, and increase regional connectivity,’’ the State Department spokesperson said.
The spokesperson noted that on January 13, the United States and Armenia jointly announced the publication of the TRIPP Implementation Framework.
“This document outlines a concrete path to operationalize TRIPP. Reflecting the principles affirmed on August 8, it also underscores the importance of sovereignty, jurisdiction, territorial integrity, and reciprocity to the overall success of the TRIPP. As President Trump has said, TRIPP will go through “some of the most important places economically anywhere in the world,” and “will boost commercial activity on the other side of the Caspian Sea, helping nations throughout Central Asia.”
“The ultimate objectives of TRIPP are to strengthen the prosperity and security of Armenia and Azerbaijan and expand U.S. commercial opportunities by expanding regional trade and connectivity, as well as to create new transit links from Central Asia and the Caspian to Europe,’’ the spokesperson concluded.
The mention of “third parties” piqued the interest of journalists on Friday, prompting Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to clarify the reference by the State Department spokesperson.
At a joint press conference Friday with his visiting Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, in Yerevan, Mirzoyan, insisted that “despite the not so favorable global developments in the region,” the U.S. and Armenia are continuing to work on this project.
He said preparation and approval of the necessary documents were currently underway, and the parties are constantly exchanging information on their positions on various issues.
“We hope to start construction as soon as possible. For this, we will need third parties. The agreement between Armenia and the US is bilateral. However, the participation of third countries will be necessary during the construction phase; possibly also in matters of system management,” Mirzoyan said.
“The TRIPP project will conclude in Azerbaijan at one end, and in Nakhchivan at the other, but its logical continuation is the connection with the Armenian railways through Yeraskh and the Turkish roads through Kars-Gyumri,” Mirzoyan said.
The countries of Central Asia are also interested in this project, and it was discussed during the recent visit by the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of transport of Kazakhstan to Armenia.
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