Rubio: TRIPP Could Turn Armenia Into a Regional Trade Hub
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) could turn Armenia into a major regional trade hub while substantially strengthening Armenian–American relations.
Speaking before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio cast TRIPP as far more than a piece of the Armenian–Azerbaijani peace process. “It really has an opportunity to revolutionize Armenia’s strategic location and become a central hub for trade in the region,” Rubio said.
He said the project answers Azerbaijan’s long-standing connectivity concerns while opening broader economic opportunities for Armenia, arguing that TRIPP could have “the ability to transform the Armenian economy in a very powerful way.”
Rubio added that the initiative has revitalized US–Armenia ties. “For a long period of time, our relations with Armenia were quite stagnant and, in many cases, I would argue almost nonexistent. It has also reinvigorated that relationship between our two countries and allows us to explore opportunities in all sorts of other fields,” he stated.
He noted that Washington remains deeply involved and hopes the project will draw investment from American companies, benefiting Armenia, Azerbaijan, neighboring countries, and U.S. economic interests alike.
On regional reactions, Rubio said there are signs Russia is unhappy with deepening US–Armenia cooperation. “The Russians are less than happy about our engagement there. I think there's evidence that they would like the current prime minister to lose his election as a result of this growing relationship with the United States,” he said.
At the same time, Rubio stressed that Washington has no intention of undermining Armenian sovereignty or its ties with other countries. “We’re not there to infringe on Armenian sovereignty. We're not asking them not to be friends with other countries. We just want to be able to have a relationship with them that's built not just on peace. Peace is important, but that's just the beginning,” he said.
Rubio emphasized that TRIPP’s success will hinge on turning agreements into concrete infrastructure. “The key is going to be execution,” he said, adding that the United States wants American companies to take part in building railways, highways, and related infrastructure in partnership with Armenian firms to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.