Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has stated that the TRIPP project remains a joint business initiative between Armenia and the United States, with no discussions held on involving third countries such as Turkey or Russia in the project itself.
Speaking during a press briefing, Mirzoyan emphasized that all border and customs functions under the project will remain fully sovereign, with Armenian border guards and customs officials maintaining permanent presence at all relevant points. He stressed that no sovereign authority will be delegated to external actors.
Addressing questions about regional connectivity, the foreign minister said the TRIPP infrastructure, which is oriented east–west, will complement Armenia’s North–South transport corridor rather than interfere with it. Together, he noted, the two projects are envisioned as forming the “Crossroads of Peace,” aligning with Armenia’s broader vision for regional connectivity and stability.
Mirzoyan confirmed that Turkey’s participation in TRIPP was not discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, he acknowledged that broader regional unblocking cannot be fully realized without Turkey’s involvement. He said discussions with Ankara on normalization and unblocking have been constructive, and tangible progress is expected in the near future.
Regarding Russia, Mirzoyan said its participation in TRIPP has not been discussed. At the same time, he stressed that Armenia does not seek to exclude Russia from regional economic processes, noting Russia’s existing role in Armenia’s railway infrastructure and the potential for future cooperation related to TRIPP-linked projects.
Responding to questions about guarantees for the implementation of agreements, Mirzoyan rejected the notion of relying on external guarantors. He argued that past experience has shown such guarantees to be ineffective and said Armenia is instead focused on creating mutually beneficial mechanisms that make cooperation advantageous for all parties involved.
According to the Foreign Minister, it is this shared economic interest – rather than formal guarantees – that Armenia believes will ensure the durability and sustainability of both infrastructure projects and broader peace efforts in the region.
