Armenia and the USA Release Joint Statement on TRIPP Project Implementation Framework

Armenia and the USA have released a joint statement regarding the implementation framework of the TRIPP project. This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

The following text of the statement has been distributed by the governments of the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today in Washington to unveil the framework for the 'Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity' project (TRIPP).

This document, published below, is a new step towards fulfilling the commitments made during the historic Peace Summit hosted by President Trump on August 8, 2025, aimed at promoting sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.

The framework outlines a specific path for launching TRIPP, intended to establish unobstructed multimodal transit connectivity through the territory of Armenia. By linking Azerbaijan’s main part with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and creating a vital link in the Trans-Caspian trade route, it is expected that TRIPP will create mutual advantages for international and domestic connectivity for the Republic of Armenia.

Reflecting the principles established at the historic Peace Summit hosted by President Trump on August 8, 2025, the TRIPP implementation framework emphasizes the importance of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and reciprocity for the overall success of TRIPP.

The ultimate goal of TRIPP is to strengthen the prosperity and security of Armenia and Azerbaijan and boost American trade by expanding regional trade and connectivity while creating new transit opportunities connecting Central Asia and the Caspian Sea to Europe.

The implementation framework of TRIPP outlines the roadmap for implementing the 'Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity' (TRIPP). This framework does not create and is not intended to create legal obligations or commitments for Armenia or the USA.

General Description

On August 8, in Washington, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan signed a Joint Declaration, laying the groundwork for opening domestic, bilateral, and international transport communications. This TRIPP implementation framework outlines further details of TRIPP's establishment and advances the objectives of the Joint Declaration.

The TRIPP project is aimed at establishing unobstructed, multimodal transit connectivity in Armenia to contribute to regional peace, stability, and integration based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of states.

By linking Azerbaijan’s main part with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and creating a vital link in the Trans-Caspian trade route, it is expected that this integration will create mutual benefits for the Republic of Armenia in international and domestic connectivity.

Through TRIPP, the USA aims to:

Facilitate progress towards lasting peace based on the August 8 Joint Declaration, to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region by opening communications, trade, and connectivity in the South Caucasus.
Expand access to markets and vital supply chains in the Trans-Caspian region, presenting to the world the example of peace built through prosperity.

Through TRIPP, Armenia aims to:

Expand its role as a regional transit and economic hub.
Attract foreign investments in Armenia’s infrastructure.
Create institutional capacities for modern border management and trade facilitation.
Establish sustainable revenue streams and purchasing rights for Armenia.
Strengthen strategic partnership with the USA.
Contribute to regional integration and settlement processes.
Expand Armenia’s export potential to new markets.

The expected benefits for the USA through TRIPP are:

Opening new markets for American investments, businesses, and goods.
Connectivity for trade in the region bringing raw materials, essential minerals, and rare metals to American markets.
Additional trade route options between the USA, Europe, and Asia, ensuring that people and goods can transits regardless of geopolitical changes.

The expected benefits for Armenia and its people through TRIPP include:

Employment opportunities for Armenia’s skilled citizens.
Joint ventures between international and Armenian companies.
Technology transfer for capacity building of Armenian companies.
Training for skill development of the Armenian labor force.
Reinvestment in the region.

COMMITMENT TO SUCCESS

Armenia's Commitment

Armenia is committed to the success of TRIPP as a strategic initiative serving its national interests. Armenia intends to undertake the following actions:

Demonstrate full cooperation and support for the development of the TRIPP development company.
Ensure effective coordination among Armenia’s governmental bodies.
Facilitate timely implementation of permit, approvals, and regulatory processes.
Maintain open communication with US partners.
Work towards regional settlement to fully realize the potential of TRIPP.
Develop differentiated procedures for the movement of people, vehicles, and goods, also between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, based on Armenia's laws, regulations, and international agreements, consistent with international standards.

Prerequisites for Success

Armenia and the USA recognize that the success of TRIPP depends on:

Further institutionalization of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Progress in comprehensive normalization between Armenia and Turkey.
Sustained engagement from the USA.
Regional collaboration and stability.
Effective development of Armenia’s institutional capacities.

Strategic Partnership

TRIPP is an expression of deepening strategic partnership between Armenia and the USA. Armenia views this project as a foundation for long-term cooperation for infrastructure, economic development, and regional integration.

FOUNDATION OF THE TRIPP DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

TRIPP should be implemented within the framework of specified transit corridors on the territory of Armenia, in locations to be specified in the future, while maintaining Armenia’s complete sovereignty over the entire coverage of the project in Armenia’s sovereign territory. The TRIPP Development Company, fully controlled by the USA and fundamentally subject to Armenia's control, aims to ensure the development and implementation of TRIPP infrastructure.

Armenia intends to allow and support the establishment of the TRIPP Development Company. It is expected that the company will be responsible for the development of TRIPP with a preliminary term of 49 years granted construction rights.

Armenia intends to offer the USA 74% of the ownership in the TRIPP Development Company, retaining 26% ownership. This cooperation is expected to be extended for another 50 years, with Armenia's government being granted additional ownership, bringing its stake to 49%.

Changes in shareholders of the TRIPP Development Company (including sales, donations, mergers, splits, reorganizations, or any other legal or factual action) and changes in beneficial owners of final profits shall be subject to prior agreement with the governments of Armenia and the USA.

Armenia and the USA intend to work together to shape the corporate structure of the TRIPP Development Company. It is expected that the structure will reflect the following issues: 1) engagement of the governments of Armenia and the USA in decisions and issues specifically related to the operation of the multimodal transit route; and 2) financial income to the USA in return for its initial investment, or other economic benefits to the USA or American companies.

Decisions regarding certain sensitive issues falling within the framework of clarified fundamental issues are expected to be made jointly through an Armenia-US leadership committee. The TRIPP Development Company is expected to directly implement TRIPP's railway and road projects and will have subsidiaries or special purpose entities for other components of TRIPP.

The Armenian share in the TRIPP Development Company reflects its contribution, which includes but is not limited to:

Land use (development) rights within the transit corridors.
Existing infrastructure assets (subject to further discussion).
Regulatory support and expedited permit processes.
Non-monetary investments related to border and customs infrastructure.
Cash investments as needed.

Each country intends to appoint a senior official as the primary coordinator for the implementation of TRIPP, who will be responsible for inter-agency coordination and will serve as the main contact person with the TRIPP Development Company.

GRANTING OF RIGHTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Armenia intends to grant the following exclusive rights to the TRIPP Development Company:

Plan, design, develop, construct, operate, and maintain multimodal transit infrastructure within the defined transit routes.
Create special purpose entities for specific infrastructural projects.
Enter into contracts with construction companies, operators, and service providers.
Generate and collect revenue from infrastructural operations.
Manage the TRIPP route as part of an integrated system.

The granted rights may include, but are not limited to:

Rail infrastructure including railways, terminals, stations, rolling stock structures.
Road infrastructure including highways, roads, bridges, tunnels.
Energy infrastructure including electricity transmission systems, oil pipelines, gas pipelines.
Digital infrastructure including fiber-optic networks.
Supporting infrastructure including administrative structures, utilities, security and safety systems in accordance with Armenian legislation.

The TRIPP Development Company may collect and hold revenues from various sources, which will include but may not be limited to:

Infrastructure access fees.
Commercial activities within the transit route.
Property rental and development.
Service fees.
Shares of revenue from special purpose entities.

Armenia firmly retains legislative, regulatory, and judicial jurisdiction, maintaining complete sovereignty over the entire coverage of TRIPP in Armenia’s sovereign territory, including the jurisdiction to enforce laws and regulations consistent with Armenia's domestic laws and international agreements, oversight of national security and law enforcement activities, jurisdiction over customs and border control regarding trade and transit through TRIPP, jurisdiction over taxes, duties, and other mandatory payments for trade and transit, access to all segments within Armenia's sovereign territory, and jurisdiction to apply all Armenian laws to sections of the transit route within Armenia's sovereign territory.

SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES

The TRIPP Development Company is expected to create separate legal structures for significant infrastructural components, depending on further study and analysis. Each such entity is expected to have governance, financing, and operational models that will correspond to the type of specific infrastructure and strategic considerations. All special purpose entities shall initially be established by the TRIPP Development Company with the understanding that private sector investment opportunities may be pursued at later stages, assessed on a case-by-case basis.

INTEGRATED BORDER SECURITY AND CUSTOMS EFFICIENCY

Fundamental Principles

Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over border and customs actions are absolute and indisputable. All border and customs activities are expected to be carried out in accordance with internationally recognized standards of border management while upholding the principles of the August 8 Declaration using the 'front office - back office' operational model.

Comprehensive Border Management

Armenia intends to continue developing and implementing contemporary practices for comprehensive border management, to which the USA may offer support through technical assistance, including:

Risk-based verification and customs clearance procedures.
Modern technologies for inspections.
Digital customs and border systems.
Systematic inter-agency processes.
Capacity development for Armenian officials.

Pilot Projects

Armenia intends to implement pilot projects optimizing:

Pre-clearance customs processes.
Digitized documentation and processes.
'One-stop' border point concepts.
Technology-driven risk assessments.
Coordinated border management with neighboring countries.

'Front Office - Back Office' Operational Model

It is expected that in line with maintaining Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, a 'front office - back office' model will be applied to enhance the effectiveness of TRIPP, utilizing digital tools to facilitate unobstructed connection.

'Front Office' (Third-Party Operators)

It is anticipated that private operators contracted with the TRIPP Development Company will provide the following customer-facing services:

Initial collection of documents for verification.
Providing information and guidance to users.
Collection of trade and transit fees and processing payments.

Taxes, customs duties, and other mandatory payments of the Republic of Armenia should be collected directly to the state budget of the Republic of Armenia, in accordance with applicable laws and fiscal procedures, facilitating and coordinating administrative support.

'Back Office' (Armenian State Bodies)

Armenian customs and border officials exercise all sovereign rights according to Armenian domestic legislation and international agreements: final customs determinations and declarations, security inspections and implementations, migration controls, law enforcement actions, permissions, and approvals, inspections and checks.

Clear Jurisdiction

'Front Office' operators provide assistance; they do not make decisions. Armenian officials maintain a physical presence at all Armenian border and customs establishments, and no delegation of sovereign functions is implemented.

Customs Procedures

Armenia will continue to develop and implement:

Risk-based selectivity along with modern inspections—centralized physical inspections.
Effective procedures for transit regimes, coupled with appropriate documentation and traceability for transit goods.
Pre-arrival processing with electronic submission and processing of documents.
'One-window' systems—integrated platforms for commercial documentation.
Harmonized procedures in accordance with international customs standards.

Security Operations

Armenia retains complete authority in its sovereign territory. Security projects for infrastructure must be validated by Armenian security bodies. Armenian authorities take priority in all emergencies. Private operational security personnel may only be employed under Armenia’s licensing.

Data Systems and Sovereignty

Modern information systems will be installed for border and customs management. All government data systems will remain under Armenia’s sovereign oversight. Data sharing with foreign entities requires appropriate legal frameworks. Cybersecurity standards will comply with international best practices. Processing of personal data will align with Armenian legislation.

Training and Capacity Development

The United States intends to contribute to comprehensive training and capacity development of Armenia’s border and customs personnel as resources allow, including: