Armenia to Establish TRIP Company to Advance "Trump Corridor" Construction

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in a speech at the German Foreign Policy Association that Armenia will establish a joint venture called "TRIPP Company" to advance the "Trump Peace and Prosperity International Route" project. This Armenian-American joint venture will be registered in Armenia and will have the rights to construct necessary infrastructure such as railways, highways, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optic cables. Actual construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.

This news marks the substantive implementation phase of the joint declaration signed in Washington by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8th of this year.

01 TRIPP Project Overview

The "Trump Peace and Prosperity International Route" (TRIPP), also known as the "Zangezur Corridor" or "Trump Corridor," is a planned transit route connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan.

The corridor traverses Armenia's Shchunik Region, is approximately 42 kilometers long, and includes planned railway lines, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optic cables. Under the agreement, Armenia granted the United States an exclusive concession for the development of the corridor and a 99-year operating right.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the "Trump Route" project and the transportation link between Armenia and Turkey are expected to become a key part of the "Middle Corridor" connecting Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. This corridor will ensure smooth inter-regional travel and restructure the cross-border transportation system in the South Caucasus.

The project's operating model involves the United States subleasing the land to a consortium responsible for infrastructure construction and management. It was disclosed that this private American company will receive 40% of the operating profits, while Armenia will receive only 30%.

02 Historical Background and Agreement Signing

The root of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan lies in the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) region. During the Soviet era, NKR was an autonomous region of Azerbaijan, but the majority of its residents were ethnic Armenians.

In 1988, NKR demanded annexation by Armenia, leading to conflict between ethnic Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the region. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, armed conflict erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 1994, the two countries reached a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, but due to the ongoing dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh's status, hostile relations persisted, and armed clashes occurred intermittently.

On December 7, 2023, Azerbaijan and Armenia issued a joint statement reaffirming their intention to normalize relations and reach a peace agreement based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On August 8, 2025, under the mediation of US President Trump, Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan held a "historic peace summit" in Washington and initialed a peace agreement.

In the statement, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring unimpeded domestic, bilateral, and international transportation based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of all countries. Armenia will cooperate with the United States and jointly selected third parties to construct a transportation corridor on its territory.

03 Geopolitical Game

The TRIP project has elicited different reactions from countries within and outside the region, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus. Iran has strongly opposed the TRIP project. Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign affairs advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader and former foreign minister, stated that "Trump seems to think he's a real estate agent, wanting to rent a piece of land or a region," but the South Caucasus is not a "no-man's land" for US President Trump to rent.

Velayati pointed out that the Caucasus region is "one of the most sensitive geographical locations in the world" and warned that if this transit corridor is built, it will become "the graveyard of Trump's mercenaries."

Russia has taken a cautious approach. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership in the United States were commendable, but the intervention of external powers should not create additional difficulties. She emphasized that the best solution to the South Caucasus issue lies in seeking and implementing a solution developed by the regional countries themselves with the support of neighbors Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

In contrast, Turkey has welcomed the TRIP project. Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan stated that this corridor could "connect Europe with the heart of Asia through Turkey." On August 22, Turkey also held a groundbreaking ceremony in the northeastern city of Öder for the Kars-Öder-Alark-Dilju railway line, a crucial border railway.

The railway is 224 kilometers long, a double-track electrified line, designed to transport 5.5 million passengers and 15 million tons of freight annually. It is expected to be completed and operational by 2029. This railway will become an important component of the Zangezur Corridor.

04 Regional Economic Significance

The TRIP project has significant strategic importance for the economic development of the South Caucasus region.

Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan stated, "The opening of communication channels will unlock Armenia's 'economic lungs'." He further noted, "In fact, we are already in the working phase. Armenia is transforming into a transportation hub. Residents of Meghri and Kapan see the mountains being carved through every day, and new north-south roads are under construction."

Azerbaijani political scientist Ilgar Velizade believes that the growing interest of the US and the West in the energy and transportation potential of the South Caucasus region, where Azerbaijan and Armenia are located, suggests that the US intends to leverage this opportunity to promote projects that could reshape the regional landscape.

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated at the railway's groundbreaking ceremony that the railway will strengthen Turkey's geostrategic position and accelerate the achievement of its export targets.

Furthermore, the project plans to establish a freight rail corridor from Russia through Azerbaijan to Armenia and ensure the transit of freight from Turkey to Azerbaijan. These measures will significantly promote regional trade and people-to-people exchanges.

05 Implementation Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite the political breakthroughs achieved by the TRIP project, numerous challenges remain in its implementation.

Armenian Parliament Speaker Arun Simonyan, citing the management model of the Argentine company operating Zvartnots Airport as an example, stated regarding the "Trump route": "Abstractly or hypothetically, the construction of energy infrastructure could be handled by an Armenian company, while the railway could be managed by another. These issues would be decided by a joint Armenian-American organization."

Regarding security arrangements, US expert Andrew Coribko pointed out that the US has not fully disclosed its plans for the TRIP corridor; the only certainty is that they intend to lease the route. He further analyzed, "Although there is speculation about potential conflict or even friction between Iran and Americans working or operating within TRIP, Trump is unlikely to allow such behavior from Iran to go unchecked and is more likely to take decisive countermeasures."

Railway construction itself also presents technical challenges. Azerbaijani lawmaker and expert Rasim Musabayov pointed out, "The track-laying work can only be carried out on Azerbaijani territory for a simple reason: the track-laying machine needs to move along the rails, and the Meghri section is not connected to the Armenian railway network."

"Before that, the railway subgrade needs to be repaired, tunnels widened if necessary, and bridges reinforced," Musabayov said. "Given that Armenia clearly plans to cooperate with Iran to build power plants and reservoirs, parts of the route will have to be rerouted. All of this requires detailed engineering planning, project and budget approvals, and tender notices. Therefore, it is a rather lengthy process."

The groundbreaking ceremony for the important railway along the Turkish border was held on August 22. This 224-kilometer railway will become an important part of the Zangezur Corridor. Armenia has also clearly stated that the TRIP railway project will officially commence in the second half of 2026.

How regional countries balance the intervention of external powers with their own interests will be key to observing the subsequent development of the TRIP project. The South Caucasus region, a “sensitive geographical point in the world,” is witnessing a shift in the geopolitical landscape, and the TRIP project is a touchstone for this shift.