In recent days, the central topics of discussion in Armenia’s political sphere have been the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan with US mediation, the first anniversary of those agreements, and the phone conversation between the prime minister of Armenia and the presidents of the United States and Azerbaijan.
In fact, the Trump administration has achieved in the South Caucasus something that no previous US administration has managed to accomplish since 1991. This concerns the idea of connecting Central Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus and the Middle Corridor, as well as the prospect of integrating Armenia into global supply chains. The initiative has strategic significance for Washington because it creates uninterrupted transportation and communication routes that bypass Russia, China, and Iran. The concept itself is not new, but it has never before reached this stage of implementation.
It is clear that timing is a critical factor here, and the project must be implemented as quickly as possible. This is precisely why the role of Washington bureaucracy has been significantly reduced in this process. Every effort is being made to ensure that the project is launched as rapidly as possible and that no additional obstacles emerge within Washington’s administrative system that could affect the implementation timeline.
This applies both to the State Department, where decision-making processes can often be slow, and to the National Security Council, where decisions and policy scenarios may also take considerable time to develop. At the moment, these obstacles effectively do not exist. Both competing institutions are headed by Rubio, and, at least in the case of this project, decisions appear to be made rather quickly.
It is also important to address the appointment of Konstantin Sokolov, which generated a wide range of interpretations. His appointment should be viewed within the same strategic framework. Sokolov is quite familiar with Armenia’s business environment, including both its strengths and its weaknesses. More importantly, his appointment also fits the broader logic of reducing bureaucracy. He has direct connections with key figures in the Trump administration and, in the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and the broader project, he will benefit from the administration’s immediate and unconditional support.
At present, the main factors complicating the TRIPP project are the railway issue and the tense US–Iran relationship. TRIPP is the American strategic project located closest to Iran’s border, with all the implications that entails. This may create certain concerns on the American side, particularly during the current period of heightened tensions, and could slow the implementation of the project.
