Engineering surveys have already begun in Armenia for the railway component of TRIPP—a transport project designed to link the region's major transport corridors and serve as part of the Trans-Caspian Trade Route. This was announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to Rubio, the project is gradually shifting from political agreements to practical implementation. Washington views TRIPP not merely as an infrastructure route, but as a means to create new trade opportunities for the US and other nations.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had also recently indicated that construction was set to begin soon. On August 8, he held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump; the two leaders discussed the progress of TRIPP and reaffirmed their intention to launch construction in the near future.

Washington has now reported concrete progress on the project: engineering surveys for the railway section are already underway in Armenia. Such work is a necessary precursor to infrastructure design and construction, allowing for an assessment of the terrain and conditions where the railway is to be laid.

Rubio described TRIPP as a vital link in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, noting that infrastructure development should demonstrate the connection between peace and economic growth. He stated that cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan—following decades of conflict—could unlock new commercial opportunities while simultaneously reinforcing the agreements already reached.

"We commend both countries for the courage and foresight they have demonstrated over the past year, and we look forward to further progress toward a lasting and durable peace in the South Caucasus," the State Department said in a statement.

TRIPP emerged as one of the key outcomes of the August 2025 summit in Washington involving Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States. At that time, Nikol Pashinyan, Ilham Aliyev, and Donald Trump signed a joint declaration, while the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed the text of an agreement on establishing peace and interstate relations.

However, there is not yet a final peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku; the agreed-upon text has been initialed but still awaits signature and ratification.

Armenian authorities emphasize that transport projects must be implemented with due regard for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of the states involved. Against this backdrop, the advancement of TRIPP stands out as one of the first notable examples of how political agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan are beginning to translate into concrete infrastructure projects.

Rubio himself confirmed that the US intends to continue working with both countries. For Washington, TRIPP is more than just a railway in this context: the project is designed to simultaneously link trade routes and cement new economic cooperation in the South Caucasus.