Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan has stated that Russia should not focus on joining the TRIPP project, also known as the Trump Route, emphasising that it is an Armenian-American initiative.
Speaking to journalists on February 10, Simonyan said he could not envision Russia’s participation in the project, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.
“How do you imagine that? This is an Armenian-American company,” he said.
He noted that transportation across Armenia is not limited to TRIPP. Simonyan pointed out that goods such as grain or fuel transported from Azerbaijan, for example, do not fall under the TRIPP framework.
The speaker suggested that Russia could instead propose expanding the initiative to include other routes. He added that mechanisms similar to TRIPP had been discussed for years, but that cooperation with the United States had materialised within the framework of the peace process led by President Donald Trump.
Simonyan did not rule out the possibility that the United States could consider Russia’s participation in the future, provided Armenia agrees.
However, he concluded that Moscow should not concentrate solely on TRIPP, stating that there are many other functioning transport routes and noting that such networks have operated in the region for decades.
TRIPP is a U.S.-promoted initiative to establish a transport and economic corridor linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe. It follows the August 8, 2025, Washington summit, where President Donald Trump mediated between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, setting the stage for regional cooperation.
The corridor aims to create integrated transport networks—railways, highways, and logistics hubs—facilitating the flow of goods, energy, and people across the region. TRIPP also seeks to boost trade, investment, and economic integration, supporting regional development and long-term stability.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
