Trump Route linked to Caucasus peace talks

Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace declaration to rename the Zangezur corridor as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.

Trump Route reshapes peace effort in the Caucasus

Armenia and Azerbaijan are poised to sign a joint peace declaration at the White House that renames the Zangezur corridor as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. The route would connect Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan through southern Armenia, with a private company expected to operate it and negotiations about who will run the corridor starting next week. The plan envisions a multimodal transit area with future rail lines, oil and gas pipelines, and fibre optic cables while honoring Armenian sovereignty. The deal is not a full peace accord but a boost for trade, transit and energy connectivity in the region.

The move ties diplomacy to commerce. By embedding a US Sponsored logistics hub in the South Caucasus, Washington signals a shift from old security postures toward regional integration. Russia’s influence is described as waning here, while Turkey’s diplomacy helps push the talks forward. The strategy carries risk: it blends statecraft with private investment, inviting scrutiny over governance, transparency and potential backlash at home and abroad. If the corridor succeeds, it could shift regional dynamics toward greater connectivity, but missteps could inflame tensions or draw competing powers deeper into a fragile balance. The longer horizon also tests whether a named route can sustain durable peace when core sovereignty questions remain unresolved.

Highlights

The road to lasting peace will test where commerce ends and diplomacy begins.