Armenia eyes third party partners for TRIPP construction

(Horizon Media) – Armenia is looking to involve third-party partners in the next phase of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, as work plans to advance toward construction, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during a joint press conference with Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna.

Mirzoyan indicated that while the agreement underpinning the project will remain bilateral between Armenia and the United States, additional partners will likely be needed for both the construction phase and the system’s future management. He added that discussions with Washington are ongoing, with efforts currently focused on drafting documents and finalizing an intergovernmental framework.

Referencing earlier statements from the U.S. State Department, Mirzoyan claimed the project continues to rank among Washington’s priorities. He noted that Armenia is coordinating not only with the United States but also with other countries to advance implementation.

Although formally a bilateral initiative, Mirzoyan emphasized the project’s broader regional scope, suggesting it could serve a wide range of countries. He pointed to its planned route linking Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan through Armenia’s Syunik region, with further connections extending toward Turkey and Central Asia.

Interest in the project has also been expressed by countries in the Middle East, he said.

The TRIPP initiative stems from a joint declaration signed in Washington on August 8 by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, which outlined plans for a strategic transit corridor across southern Armenia. Armenian officials have since clarified that the arrangement does not involve leasing territory, but rather granting development rights under agreed terms.