Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, emphasizing Armenia’s growing role in regional connectivity and peacebuilding through its “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.
In his remarks, Pashinyan thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her leadership in advancing the Global Gateway Vision and noted the symbolic link between that initiative and Armenia’s own efforts to enhance regional cooperation and infrastructure development.
“It is very symbolic that during the first Global Gateway Forum, Armenia introduced our newborn initiative, Crossroads of Peace, with the vision to become an important hub for East-West and North-South connectivity,” the Prime Minister said.
Pashinyan underlined that as a landlocked country, Armenia understands the vital importance of inclusive and equitable connectivity, noting that limited access to infrastructure has long constrained the country’s development and regional integration.
He highlighted that with peace now established between Armenia and Azerbaijan and positive momentum in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, the Crossroads of Peace concept is moving from vision to implementation.
According to Pashinyan, the Washington Peace Summit held on August 8 — supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump — resulted in an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to open regional infrastructure based on the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and reciprocity.
The Prime Minister also announced a new collaborative initiative — the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) — which will be implemented by Armenia and the United States, together with international partners. The project aims to enhance connectivity across the South Caucasus and beyond, aligning with the broader vision of the Crossroads of Peace initiative.
“For the first time in modern history, our region is ready both politically and logistically to unlock its untapped potential and to be integrated into the wider unimpeded connectivity between Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, also known as the TRIPP Route, is a promising investment project that entails a plethora of opportunities for the cooperation from railroads to energy,” PM Pashinyan said.
The Armenian leader stressed that the European Union’s increased engagement in the South Caucasus and Central Asia comes at a pivotal moment, and reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to serve as a bridge between the regions — not only through infrastructure, but also in the fields of digital innovation, energy cooperation, and regulatory alignment.
Pashinyan added that relations between Armenia and the European Union have never been closer, offering new opportunities to integrate Armenia more deeply into Europe’s evolving connectivity architecture, including initiatives such as the Global Gateway, the Black Sea Strategy, and the Middle Corridor.
“I sincerely hope that my words inspired you to take bold decisions for peace, stability, resilience, and prosperity,” he concluded.
The Global Gateway Forum, hosted by the European Commission, brings together global leaders and partners to advance sustainable infrastructure and investment projects that strengthen global connectivity.
