Mapping the TRIPP Ahead: Prosperity in the South Caucasus and Opportunities for U.S. companies

Graphic with a picture of (L to R): President Aliyev, President Trump, and Prime Minister Pashinyan

September 17, 2025

Evan Johnson and Leo Ayala are International Trade Specialists

On August 8, 2025, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan signed a peace framework brokered by President Donald J. Trump, committing to end decades of conflict in the South Caucasus. A central component of the deal envisions a strategic transportation link through Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan, to be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Together, these historic developments have the potential to become a major driver of regional economic integration.

TRIPP’s development can complement the ongoing work to build out the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route that spans Central Asia and the South Caucasus by creating an additional westward outlet for critical minerals, energy, and other goods traveling between Eurasia and Europe, thereby reducing regional dependence on eastward flows to China.

At the same time, discussions between Armenia and Türkiye on normalizing relations could open the door to further opportunities for U.S.–Türkiye collaboration to support regional economic integration. Armenia’s land borders connecting it to Türkiye and Azerbaijan have been closed since the early 1990s, but these discussions may spur the reopening and refurbishment of border crossings and transportation nodes across the region. If Armenia’s borders with both Azerbaijan and Türkiye reopen, the three countries would be positioned to enhance the region’s capacity as a key hub for global trade, energy, and digital connectivity.

Building on this momentum, U.S. business associations are mobilizing to translate diplomatic breakthroughs into commercial opportunities. In September, the U.S. Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, the America Georgia Business Council, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan partnered with the U.S. Department of Commerce to organize a three-country Trans-Caspian Trade business delegation to explore regional opportunities in energy, critical infrastructure, and digital technologies. President Trump’s efforts to bolster U.S. engagement in the region are a positive harbinger for U.S. commercial success in the region.

Market Intelligence: South Caucasus - Infrastructure Development