Azerbaijani president: TRIPP’s naming confirms its significance for Washington

Ilham Aliyev has said that the very name of the TRIPP corridor reflects its anticipated strategic importance for the current US administration and potentially beyond.

Speaking during the panel discussion “Open Corridor Policy? Deepening Trans-Caspian Cooperation” in Munich on February 14, the Azerbaijani head of state underlined the symbolic and political weight attached to the initiative, Caliber.Az reports via state media.

“I think the very fact that TRIPP bears the name of President Trump means that this corridor will be important for this administration and maybe beyond the term of this administration,” President Ilham Aliyev said during the panel discussion. He added that otherwise, the President would not have given his name to the corridor. Giving the name means that it will be done.

Addressing the broader regional context, President Aliyev highlighted the significance of the current period of calm following the achievement of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“We have lived in peace for only six months, and believe me, it's a very special feeling. It's a very good feeling, which is shared by all the population of Azerbaijan, and I'm sure of Armenia,” President Ilham Aliyev said.

According to the head of state, connectivity projects and transport corridors will usher in a fundamentally new reality in the South Caucasus, enabling trilateral interaction between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

“Since August up to now, we not only enjoy an absolutely new situation on our border, but there is no shooting, no victims, no wounded, no problems,” President Ilham Aliyev said during the discussion.

He also noted that practical steps towards cooperation are already under way.

“We have already started physical cooperation with Armenia. We lifted all the restrictions on the transportation of cargo through Azerbaijan. We are grateful to our Georgian friends that they provide very important transit after the goods reach Azerbaijan through Georgia,” the President added.

Turning to wider regional connectivity, President Aliyev stressed Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Central Asian partners, particularly in digital infrastructure.

“We are now working closely with our Central Asian partners of building the fiber optic cable under the Caspian Sea. Work will be carried out in this regard, and we are also thinking about new opportunities,” he said.

The President further pointed to the economic potential of new routes linking Azerbaijan, Armenia, and European destinations.

“After peace with Armenia have been achieved, corridor which goes Azerbaijan to Armenia and further to European destination, has also great potential with respect to the volume of cargoes,” the head of state added.

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s long-term strategy, President Aliyev recalled the country’s extensive investments in transport infrastructure.

“Azerbaijan was largely investing into the physical infrastructure; including sea ports, railroads, and air cargo transportation. Definitely, trying to become a regional transportation hub, you have to have good relations with your neighbors,” he said.

He emphasised that geography alone is insufficient without substantial infrastructure development.

“Whether it's to the west or to the east, Azerbaijan is trying for this. Azerbaijan's geographical position, being situated between Europe and Asia is an advantage, but without physical infrastructure, it doesn't mean a lot.”

By Vugar Khalilov