Armenian PM says Trump route project not threat to Georgian transit

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project does not pose a threat to Georgia’s transit role, addressing concerns raised in Tbilisi about potential economic competition.

Speaking at a National Assembly session on March 4, Pashinyan responded to a remark by ruling majority faction lawmaker Shirak Torosyan, who noted that many in Georgia see TRIPP as a serious challenge that could render Georgian transit routes secondary, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Pashinyan said the issue should be considered in a broader context, particularly regarding cargo transportation from China to the European Union via the South Caucasus.

“It’s about goods worth trillions of dollars, and even the 20 railway and road routes passing through the countries of the South Caucasus will not be able to service such a flow,” Pashinyan said.

He emphasised that Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan should approach regional transport communications as a shared opportunity rather than a competitive arena.

“If the three countries can turn the region into an appealing and safe route for cargo transportation, their revenues will increase significantly,” the Armenian PM said.

Pashinyan, who recently returned from Georgia, added that his counterparts in Tbilisi share this view.

On August 8, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House for a historic summit. The leaders initialled a draft peace agreement, signed a joint declaration committing to normalisation, and mutually recognised territorial integrity. 

A key element was the establishment of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)—a U.S.-developed transit corridor through Armenia's southern territory linking mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, promoting regional connectivity.

By Sabina Mammadli