Greek analyst hails TRIPP corridor as game-changer for Caucasus geopolitics

An analytical article by journalist Bill Giannopoulos, published in the Greek City Times, described the August 8 signing in Washington of a joint declaration between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, mediated by US President Donald Trump, as one of the most significant political developments in the South Caucasus in recent decades.

Giannopoulos wrote that this historic document provides for the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, mutual recognition of territorial integrity, the expansion of trade and transport links, and the establishment of sustainable peace in the region. A central element of the agreement is the creation of a strategic transit corridor named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), which will ensure direct communication with Nakhchivan.

The TRIPP project envisions the construction of railways, highways, oil and gas pipelines, and fibre-optic communications infrastructure. Its aim is to create a safe and efficient trade route connecting the markets of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Giannopoulos stressed that TRIPP will shape a new reality in the region, not only in economic terms but also in geopolitical significance.

The article noted that the agreement has drawn mixed international reactions. Russia welcomed the initiative as a positive step for regional stability but underscored the importance of relying on local mechanisms to address issues in the South Caucasus. Iran, meanwhile, voiced concern over the corridor’s proximity to its border and perceived the project as a move to strengthen US influence in the region.

In Azerbaijan, the peace initiative has been met with cautious optimism. Experts believe the agreement will bolster the country’s geopolitical position, attract greater foreign investment, and enable the South Caucasus to integrate more actively into global trade networks.

The article also recalled that the Karabakh conflict, ongoing since the late 1980s, has been a persistent source of tension in the region. Although the 2020 war altered the situation on the ground, the path toward a final peace agreement has been drawn out. The signing of the Washington Declaration is seen as the culmination of this long process.

By Tamilla Hasanova