Armenian PM outlines TRIPP launch and railway reconstruction timeline

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that work on the TRIPP project is set to begin in 2026, according to statements made during the presentation of the ruling Civil Contract party’s election program.

According to local media, cited by Caliber.Az, Pashinyan said he was confident that on-the-ground implementation would start next year. He indicated that power transmission infrastructure is likely to be completed first, describing electricity lines as the fastest component of the project to be put into operation.

In addition to energy infrastructure, Pashinyan outlined timelines for railway reconstruction linked to the initiative. He said that upgrading the rail sections connecting Gyumri to Türkiye, as well as the Yeraskh–Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan), is expected to take between one and one and a half years.

The issue of restoring regional connectivity gained renewed momentum following a summit hosted by Donald Trump at the White House on August 8, 2025. The meeting brought together Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

During the talks, the two leaders initialled a draft peace agreement and signed a joint declaration committing to the normalisation of relations, while also mutually recognising each other’s territorial integrity.

A central component of the discussions was the proposed creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) — a US-developed transit corridor running through Armenia’s southern territory. The route is intended to link mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave and promote broader regional connectivity.

By Tamilla Hasanova