Armenia outlines private sector involvement in strategic “Trump Route” project Under US assistance / UPDATED

Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a comprehensive framework document outlining the implementation of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), an initiative intended to ensure unimpeded transit between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic while strengthening regional connectivity across the South Caucasus.

The document was published following a meeting in Washington between Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the document does not create legally binding obligations for either Armenia or the United States and is intended as a non-binding framework.

The TRIPP framework sets out mechanisms for establishing multimodal transit connectivity across Armenian territory. The initiative is described as a major infrastructure project designed to facilitate uninterrupted transit linking Azerbaijan proper with Nakhchivan, while also serving as a critical segment of the wider Trans-Caspian trade corridor.

The Foreign Ministry underlines that implementation will be guided by the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and reciprocity. The stated objective is to bolster the security and economic development of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and to enhance regional trade and transit potential between Central Asia, the Caspian region, and Europe.

Key implementation provisions

The document provides for the establishment of a TRIPP Development Company, envisioned as a structure in which the United States retains a controlling stake while Armenia maintains oversight mechanisms on core governance issues.

Under the proposed model, the project would operate under a 49-year build-operate period, with the option of extending the arrangement for an additional 50 years. At the initial stage, the US would hold 74 per cent of shares and Armenia 26 per cent, with the possibility of increasing Armenia’s share to 49 per cent in the event of an extension.

Any changes in shareholder composition or ultimate beneficiaries would require prior approval from both the Armenian and US governments.

The TRIPP Development Company would receive exclusive rights to plan, construct, operate, and maintain rail and road infrastructure, as well as associated energy and digital systems along the designated transit routes.

Revenues and funding

Potential revenue sources include infrastructure access fees, commercial operations along the route, rental and real estate development, service charges, and income generated through special-purpose entities.

Sovereignty and state authority

A dedicated section of the document affirms that Armenia will retain full legislative, regulatory, and judicial jurisdiction over its territory. The country will also maintain control over national security and law enforcement, as well as customs and border management, including the authority to levy taxes, duties, and other compulsory payments.

Border and customs procedures

The framework introduces an international “front-office/back-office” model for border and customs operations. Private operators contracted by the TRIPP Development Company may perform customer-facing functions—such as document collection, user consultations, coordination, and payment processing—while Armenian state bodies will retain exclusive authority to issue final decisions on customs clearance, security, migration control, and law enforcement. The document emphasises that no sovereign functions will be outsourced.

Armenia also plans to adopt risk-based inspection practices, expand digital customs and border systems, introduce “single-window” mechanisms, and pilot models for pre-clearance and electronic documentation. Training programs for Armenian personnel may be supported by the United States, subject to resource availability.

Integrated border management

The document outlines Armenia’s intention to continue advancing modern integrated border-management practices. The United States may support these efforts through technical assistance in areas such as:

– risk-based inspection and customs procedures,
– advanced screening technologies,
– digital border and customs systems,
– coordinated interagency processes, and
– professional training for Armenian personnel.

Pilot projects

Armenia plans to launch pilot initiatives aimed at streamlining:

– pre-customs clearance processes,
– digital documentation and processing,
– “single-stop” concepts at border crossings,
– technology-driven risk assessment systems, and
– coordinated border management with neighbouring states.

9:16

Private operators are set to participate in the implementation of the “Trump Route” in Armenia, with the United States providing technical assistance that will cover inspection and customs clearance procedures, as well as the deployment of advanced screening technologies.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Armenian media, these arrangements are outlined in a joint declaration on TRIPP adopted following the meeting between Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The document was published on the website of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The declaration reiterates that Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over all border and customs operations are not open to negotiation. It notes that border management will be carried out using an international “front-office/back-office” operational model.

Armenia plans to introduce several pilot projects designed to streamline pre-customs clearance procedures, digitise documentation, and advance the “single checkpoint” approach.

Under the project framework, private operators contracted by the TRIPP Development Company are expected to handle a range of services, including the initial collection of documents for verification, providing information and consultation to users, collecting fees, and processing payments related to trade and transit.

Armenian officials will retain a permanent physical presence at all border and customs facilities, and the country’s sovereign functions will not be outsourced. The document also specifies that private personnel responsible for operational security may be employed, provided they secure licensing in Armenia.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), also referred to as the Zangezur Corridor, is a major regional infrastructure initiative aimed at linking mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik (Zangezur) region.

The project was formally established on August 8, 2025, in Washington through a declaration signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, together with US President Donald Trump.

Conceived as both a peacebuilding mechanism and a strategic logistics corridor, TRIPP envisions the creation of new rail and road connections, oil and gas pipelines, fibre-optic communication lines, and electricity transmission infrastructure. Its broader objective is to integrate the South Caucasus into the “Middle Corridor” trade route between Europe and Asia, thereby expanding regional transit capacity, supporting trade flows, and promoting economic diversification.

By Tamilla Hasanova