Russian Foreign Ministry warned Armenia of risks of launching "Trump Route" in light of the US-Iran conflict
12.05.2026,
13:26
The prospects for launching the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) project are bleak given the Iran-US conflict, Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth Department of the CIS Countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told TASS in an interview.
YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. The prospects for launching the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) project are bleak given the Iran-US conflict, Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth Department of the CIS Countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told TASS in an interview.
"A number of experts think that, in addition to Iran's negative perception of the US presence on its northern borders, American control over the route from Central Asia to Europe, of which the Trump Route is intended to be a part, could also generate mistrust among Asian partners. And without Chinese and Russian cargo, it will be extremely difficult to recoup the investment in the project," he noted. Among the factors that must be taken into account in implementing the project, Kalugin cited the presence of Russian border guards on the Armenian-Iranian border, the need to lay a Russian-standard railway track for connection with Azerbaijani infrastructure, the concession of South Caucasus Railways CJSC to manage the Armenian railway network, which is valid until 2038, and Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union's single customs space.
Kalugin noted that the transit route project between the mainland of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through southern Armenia "did not arise out of nowhere." He said it was preceded by work in the Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan format within a trilateral working group co-chaired by deputy prime ministers.
He stated that in 2023, the parties were "close" to launching the so-called Meghri route, which was intended to provide transit through southern Armenia to Nakhichevan and connect the Armenian and Azerbaijani railways.
"This is precisely what Armenia is currently trying so hard to achieve, relying on the 'Trump Road.' But the problem is that the Armenian-American initiative, unlike the 'Meghri Route,' does not automatically provide for a full connection of Armenian and Azerbaijani railway infrastructure. It's not our fault that Yerevan deliberately froze the work of the trilateral working group in 2023," the Russian diplomat said.
"A number of experts think that, in addition to Iran's negative perception of the US presence on its northern borders, American control over the route from Central Asia to Europe, of which the Trump Route is intended to be a part, could also generate mistrust among Asian partners. And without Chinese and Russian cargo, it will be extremely difficult to recoup the investment in the project," he noted. Among the factors that must be taken into account in implementing the project, Kalugin cited the presence of Russian border guards on the Armenian-Iranian border, the need to lay a Russian-standard railway track for connection with Azerbaijani infrastructure, the concession of South Caucasus Railways CJSC to manage the Armenian railway network, which is valid until 2038, and Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union's single customs space.
Kalugin noted that the transit route project between the mainland of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through southern Armenia "did not arise out of nowhere." He said it was preceded by work in the Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan format within a trilateral working group co-chaired by deputy prime ministers.
He stated that in 2023, the parties were "close" to launching the so-called Meghri route, which was intended to provide transit through southern Armenia to Nakhichevan and connect the Armenian and Azerbaijani railways.
"This is precisely what Armenia is currently trying so hard to achieve, relying on the 'Trump Road.' But the problem is that the Armenian-American initiative, unlike the 'Meghri Route,' does not automatically provide for a full connection of Armenian and Azerbaijani railway infrastructure. It's not our fault that Yerevan deliberately froze the work of the trilateral working group in 2023," the Russian diplomat said.
