Armenia Ratifies TRIPP Transport Deal With United States
The Armenian National Assembly ratified a strategic cooperation agreement with the United States to establish the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity transport project.
The National Assembly of Armenia ratified a framework agreement with the United States to implement the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. The measure passed with 63 votes in favor and 32 against, establishing a strategic cooperation framework to facilitate unhindered transit from mainland Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia's Syunik region using digital tools.
Ararat Mirzoyan, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, defended the project during parliamentary debates, stating that the initiative could launch before a formal peace agreement is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He argued that the project would be mutually beneficial and asserted that all infrastructure on Armenian territory would operate exclusively under the country's sovereignty and jurisdiction, a position reaffirmed by U.S. representatives.
Opposition lawmakers, led by Anna Grigoryan of the Hayastan faction, voted against the ratification. Grigoryan argued that the deal disproportionately benefits Azerbaijan and Turkey by securing a long-term strategic goal of unimpeded access to Nakhchivan. She claimed that while the agreement is formally bilateral between Armenia and the United States, Azerbaijan acts as an effective third party, potentially threatening Armenian sovereignty with minimal economic return.
