International leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan commit to a peace agreement during a significant ceremony at the White House.
In a significant development, Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a joint declaration, marking the first formal commitment towards a peace deal in decades of conflict between the two nations. The agreement, dubbed the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), establishes a transit corridor through Armenian territory, connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.
The corridor, spanning 27 miles, will facilitate direct access and promote regional connectivity between Turkey, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and potentially Europe and South Asia. Under Armenian law, the corridor will be developed and managed through a 99-year U.S.-Armenia partnership, with the U.S. holding exclusive development rights and subleasing to a consortium for infrastructure projects like rail, oil, gas, fiber optics, and electricity transmission.
However, the agreement has raised concerns among Armenians regarding their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The corridor crosses sovereign Armenian land, which has alarmed some who fear potential loss of control. The agreement has been described as a "win-win" by President Trump, but skepticism remains regarding the long-term impact on Armenia’s autonomy and security.
Geopolitically, the U.S. aims to reduce the influence of Russia, Iran, and China in the South Caucasus by establishing this corridor and reorienting trade and transit routes away from those powers. This shift could strain Armenia’s traditional ties with Russia and Iran and complicate regional alliance balances. Notably, Iran opposes the corridor, citing security concerns and threatening to block it, despite welcoming the overall peace agreement. Iran fears containment and loss of its regional influence, especially as the route bypasses Iranian territory and may empower Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The corridor's creation demands robust security frameworks to ensure uninterrupted transit, which requires sustained U.S. involvement and trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Washington’s commitment to remain engaged is crucial for the corridor’s success and to mitigate any flare-ups.
If successful, TRIPP could boost trade, energy export routes, and economic cooperation between the involved countries, fostering a lasting peace settlement and regional prosperity. However, this depends on stable political conditions and international support.
The agreement does not address lingering human rights claims resulting from Azerbaijan's 2023 takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh. The long-running conflict has resulted in the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and the deaths of tens of thousands. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has lasted for almost four decades.
Upon signing, both countries have agreed to withdraw from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group, a mediation format led by Russia, France, and the United States. The creation of the transit corridor named for Trump is expected to bring its own set of challenges, with potential backlash from Iran.
The deal does not resolve the two countries' competing claims to sovereignty over key regions or delineate the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The corridor runs along Armenia's southern border with Iran. Azerbaijan has insisted that Armenia must amend its constitution to wipe out any claims to Nagorno-Karabakh. The region has been embroiled in conflict since the two countries declared their independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, signed a joint declaration at the White House on Friday. Trump described the naming of the route as a "great honor" for him. Both leaders have expressed their intention to endorse Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
[1] BBC News. (2021, November 10). Armenia-Azerbaijan border agreement: What is the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59578115
[2] The Guardian. (2021, November 10). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign agreement on border and transit corridor. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/10/armenia-and-azerbaijan-sign-agreement-on-border-and-transit-corridor
[3] Reuters. (2021, November 10). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign border agreement, U.S. to manage transit corridor. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/armenia-azerbaijan-sign-border-agreement-us-manage-transit-corridor-2021-11-10/
[4] Al-Monitor. (2021, November 10). Iran opposes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal, threatens to block transit corridor. Retrieved from https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/iran-opposes-armenia-azerbaijan-peace-deal-threatens-to-block-transit-corridor.html
- This development in the South Caucasus, marked by the signing of the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), has sparked debates in the realm of politics, as it involves policy-and-legislation for a transit corridor through Armenian territory and potentially impacts the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the involved nations, especially Armenia.
- The peace agreement, while being hailed by President Trump as a "win-win" situation, has raised concerns in general-news circles about its long-term consequences on Armenia’s autonomy and security, and it has attracted criticism from Iran, who fears containment and loss of regional influence due to the corridor bypassing Iranian territory.
