US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to deepening ties with Armenia during a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, describing cooperation between the two countries as a key priority for President Donald Trump’s administration and emphasizing efforts to advance peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus.
Rubio said he was pleased to be in Yerevan to continue advancing the vision shared by President Trump and Armenia’s leadership, describing it as a “courageous path” toward peace in the region.
He pointed to the August 8 Washington summit hosted by President Trump as a landmark moment that helped solidify efforts toward peace in the South Caucasus. Rubio said he was honored to join Mirzoyan in initialing a bilateral agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), describing it as the most significant step so far toward turning the project into reality.
“This agreement marks the biggest step to date on making this historic route a reality, on advancing peace and on increasing prosperity in Armenia and, frankly, in the region,” Rubio said.
The Secretary of State stressed that bilateral relations extend far beyond the TRIPP initiative, noting that expanding cooperation with Armenia remains a top priority for the administration.
According to Rubio, President Trump personally places great importance on the initiative and broader US-Armenia cooperation, viewing it as an important part of his second-term legacy.
Rubio also highlighted the renewal of the Strategic Partnership Charter, saying it outlines a new stage in bilateral relations and creates broader opportunities for economic cooperation between Armenians and Americans.
“We are laying the groundwork for the sort of economic engagement that allows Armenians to make money and find prosperity and Americans to do the same – and to do it together,” he said.
He emphasized that durable strategic partnerships are built on shared interests and mutual benefit, noting that cooperation is strongest when both countries see tangible advantages in working together and share a common vision for the future.
Rubio also highlighted a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals, describing access to and processing of strategic resources as increasingly essential for technological development and economic competitiveness in the 21st century.
“Countries that are able to do that are going to be able to find economic independence and place themselves at the center of innovation,” he said.
He noted that cooperation in the critical minerals sector would help ensure reliable access to resources for both countries while supporting innovation and long-term economic growth.
Concluding his remarks, Rubio praised Armenia’s leadership for efforts toward building a “brighter and more independent future” for the country.
“And we’re very happy to be here to show my support, my support for their courage, my support for their vision, my support for their dedication, my support for their willingness to see for the future of their country what it takes to get there,” he noted.
“And we’re very happy and proud to be a part of it. And we can’t wait to do more together,” Rubio said.
