Armenia, U.S. jointly drafting TRIPP project document, says PM

Armenia and the United States are jointly developing a document to define the strategic framework of the TRIPP connectivity project, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday.

“Armenia and the United States are preparing a document outlining the strategic framework of the TRIPP project, which both sides will need to approve in some format, after which the next step will begin. My forecast remains the same: we will start seeing work on the TRIPP project on the ground in the second half of 2026,” he said at a press briefing when asked to provide updates.

The Prime Minister suggested that, within the framework of the TRIPP project, the first work is likely to be the construction of a railway.

“I assume that the railway will be the first project, although I do not rule out the possibility that economic feasibility and investment considerations may require adjustments, and it may turn out that a gas or oil pipeline project should be implemented earlier. But I am not making hints; I mean that the process is dynamic, and it may become clear that, due to certain circumstances, the need for a gas or oil pipeline is more urgent. At this point, however, our assessment is that the railway is the priority. The special feature of the railway is that its route is clear, since there used to be a railway along that section,” the Prime Minister explained.

Pashinyan also stated that the Armenian government is working on acquiring modern border and customs infrastructure and equipment, which will be implemented not only at Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan but also with Iran, Georgia, and Türkiye.

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, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project, and an Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.