Armenia Says Construction of TRIPP Corridor to Begin in Late 2026

IN NEWS: Armenia Says Construction of TRIPP Corridor to Begin in Late 2026

ANALYSIS

1. Key Announcement

• Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that construction of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is expected to begin in late 2026.
• TRIPP is the Armenian section of the Zangezur Corridor, intended to establish transport connectivity between mainland Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave.

2. Implementation Timeline

• First half of 2026: All agreements between involved parties must be finalized.
• Second half of 2026: Construction work is planned to begin.
• Pashinyan acknowledged that delays may occur but emphasized efforts to adhere to the schedule.

3. Route Alignment

• The corridor will follow the former Soviet railway alignment, as constructing an alternate route was deemed unrealistic.
• The Armenian portion of the railway is 42 kilometers long.

4. Diplomatic Engagement and U.S. Role

• In September, a U.S. delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary Brendan Hanrahan visited Armenia to discuss TRIPP.
• Armenia’s Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan confirmed that the project has transitioned from planning to active implementation.
• Under the trilateral declaration, the United States received exclusive development rights for TRIPP’s Armenian segment.

5. Historical Context

• Since the early 1990s, transport routes between Armenia and Azerbaijan were closed due to conflict and Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani lands.
• As a result, major transport projects—including the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway—bypassed Armenia, despite the possibility of more direct routes through its territory.

6. Post-2020 War Developments

• Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 war, discussions resumed on restoring regional transport connections.
• Article 9 of the 2020 trilateral statement mandated the unblocking of all transport and economic links.
• Armenia agreed to ensure safe passage between Azerbaijan’s mainland and Nakhchivan, forming the conceptual basis of the Zangezur Corridor.

7. Peace Agreement Progress

• In August, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace agreement during a trilateral meeting involving President Ilham Aliyev, PM Pashinyan, and U.S. President Donald Trump.
• The document, titled “Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations”, indicated significant progress toward normalization and connectivity restoration.

8. Completion Targets

• Azerbaijan aims to finish the Horadiz–Aghband railway—its section of the corridor—by end-2026.
• President Aliyev stated that the Zangezur Corridor could become operational by end-2028, with future extension planned toward the Turkish rail network.

STATIC PART

1. Zangezur Corridor

• A proposed transport route enabling direct access between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia.
• Considered crucial for regional connectivity and geopolitical stability in the South Caucasus.

2. Nakhchivan Exclave

• An Azerbaijani exclave bordering Armenia, Iran, and Turkey.
• Historically isolated from mainland Azerbaijan, making connectivity projects essential.

3. Soviet-Era Rail Networks

• Many contemporary projects reuse former Soviet alignments due to established pathways and feasibility advantages.

4. U.S. Strategic Role

• U.S. involvement in developing the Armenian stretch reflects its expanding diplomatic and strategic presence in the South Caucasus.

Updated – 14 Nov 2025 ; 10:21 PM | News Source: Caspian News