Reopening regional connectivity requires ‘very serious and delicate work,’ says analyst

Reopening connectivity in the South Caucasus and aligning the interests of all regional countries requires very serious and delicate work, according to a leading political scientist.

Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute, spoke in an interview with Armenpress about the prospects of the Armenian government's Crossroads of Peace and TRIPP projects.

“By opening roads and communications, the current Armenian authorities aim to ensure a more stable situation in the region and reduce the risks that may come from Azerbaijan. If we talk about prospects, these are very different matters. After all, what is happening is far from the end; this is still the beginning. What was signed in Washington is a declaration—a declaration according to which Armenia and Azerbaijan acknowledge that communications are necessary,” Iskandaryan said.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (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. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

According to Iskandaryan, there are political and technical issues regarding the implementation of the TRIPP project, over which Armenia and the United States are conducting negotiations.

“There are political and technical obstacles, and all of this needs to be resolved. We must also understand that the situation has complexities: on the other side of the Araks River are Iranian border guards; on the Armenian side are Russian and Armenian border guards; European observers are stationed very close by; Azerbaijanis are on the left and right sides, and the Turks are a little further away. At the same time, the Iranians are building a road toward northern Armenia, there is an Iranian consulate in Kapan, a French consulate in Goris, and Russia also wants to open a consulate in Kapan. We must add the Americans to this and see how this matter will be resolved, since aligning the interests of Iran, the United States, Russia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Armenia is not easy. Nevertheless, this does not mean it is impossible; it simply means that it requires very serious work—a long path that still needs to be taken,” the political analyst emphasized.

Iskandaryan described this process as complex and long-term, noting that there are many similar situations around the world.

“I always give the example of the route stretching from Belarus to Russia’s Kaliningrad region. It passes through Lithuania, which, by the way, is a member of NATO and the European Union; nevertheless, an agreement has been reached allowing Russian citizens to visit the Kaliningrad region without any visa and even without a passport. Thus, such things are possible, but they require very delicate work,” Alexander Iskandaryan said.

In an interview with Fox News following the Washington Peace Summit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the accords on the connectivity projects will bring benefits to the entire international community.