Civil Contract lawmaker accuses opposition of seeking to derail Armenia–U.S. TRIPP project and peace deal with Azerbaijan

A lawmaker representing Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract faction has warned that the parliamentary opposition is trying to sabotage the implementation of the TRIPP project and the signing of the initialed peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

MP Artur Hovhannisyan made the remarks at a press briefing in response to claims by representatives of the Strong Armenia faction that more than one guarantor is needed for the implementation of the Armenia–United States TRIPP project and the signing of the peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

“Let there be no impression that, by speaking about the need for guarantors, the opposition is trying to improve the TRIPP project or the initialed peace agreement. The opposition is trying to derail the implementation of the TRIPP project and the signing of the peace agreement. The only way to return Armenia to dependence on external influence is to derail TRIPP and the peace process. We understand what the opposition is trying to achieve. The opposition’s observations and comments on these issues are merely a smokescreen for what they want to carry out. They want to derail Armenia’s independence, and we will not allow that,” the representative of the ruling party said.

On October 28, the Armenian parliament ratified the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), with 63 votes in favor. Only lawmakers from the ruling Civil Contract faction voted in favor of ratification.

Under the agreement, a company named TRIPP Development Company will be established, with Armenia holding a 26% stake and the U.S. side holding 74%. The agreement's initial term is 49 years. If cooperation is extended for another 50 years by mutual agreement, Armenia's stake will increase to 49%, while the U.S. side's share will decrease to 51%.

The agreement was signed in June 2026 by Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.