Armenian leader describes TRIPP as global game-changer, thanks Trump for brokering peace deal
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again highlighted the global significance of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project in terms of international trade.
Speaking at the Leadership at the Crossroads: Navigating Power and Stability in a Fragmented World discussion during the Paris Peace Forum, PM Pashinyan said that, given the current global supply chain crisis, the TRIPP project could be a game-changer in international commerce.
TRIPP is a connectivity project in Armenia envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, creating long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment and enhancing regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project.
Pashinyan presented the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani accords at the forum.
In his remarks, the Armenian PM once again thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his personal engagement and mediation.
The Prime Minister stressed that the peace declaration adopted by Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington contains a provision concerning the opening of regional connectivity, based on the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity, and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders.
“There is another provision according to which Armenia and the United States will implement the “Trump Route” program on a bilateral basis, which will be carried out within the territory of Armenia. It is a bilateral project between Armenia and the United States; however, the connection with Azerbaijan is of crucial importance for it, as we need access from East to West.
“This is necessary for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, because in this case we need each other in order to have access through connectivity routes. Armenia and the U.S. are actively working in this direction, and there is a very important nuance here: in our understanding, regional connectivity means that Armenia and Azerbaijan will have the opportunity to use each other’s territory for intra-state, bilateral, and international connections. This means a new route through our territory will open for international transit, and considering the current global supply chain crisis, it could change the situation in terms of international trade, as well as transform the situation in our region,” said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan underscored that peace has been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the initialing of the peace treaty.
“Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been established; it is a reality. And we see and feel it on the ground. It was confirmed as a result of the summit held in Washington on August 8, with the support and participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, and I want to once again express our gratitude to Donald Trump. Of course, we were working on the peace agenda, but without his personal involvement, I don’t think we could have what we have now. And we do have peace, and it is a reality. You know that in Washington, D.C., we adopted a peace declaration with the President of Azerbaijan, and President Trump signed it as a witness. Our foreign ministers initialed the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And this is truly a historic change not only in our bilateral relations with Azerbaijan but also in our region as a whole, because it is the first time that we have a real opportunity to enter a phase of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus—not only to have peace but also to have a prosperous region,” emphasized Pashinyan.