The “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) finally removes Russia’s position as the main player in the South Caucasus. A joint Armenian-American management company will, for at least 49 years, ensure the operation of the project and facilitate communication between recent adversaries in the Armenia-Azerbaijan war. Until recently, Moscow positioned itself as the region’s sole, indispensable communicator.
Within the framework of TRIPP, plans include the construction of oil and gas pipelines, fiber-optic networks, and the development of rail and road infrastructure along the railway line bordering Iran. According to the project’s beneficiaries, the corridor will form an “important link” in the Trans-Caspian route, stretching through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and onward to Turkey and European countries. According to Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Russia’s participation in the project was not even discussed by the American and Armenian sides.
At the same time, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan almost ultimatum-style addressed Russian Railways (RZD), currently the concessionaire of the Armenian railway, urging them to quickly restore the rail lines to the borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Otherwise, Armenia will carry out the restoration itself, raising further questions about the rationale for Russia’s presence in the region.
