Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan stated that Russia's possible participation in the TRIPP transport project is not currently under consideration. He stated that the project is being implemented between Armenia and the United States, with the relevant agreement already signed and in the implementation phase.
Responding to journalists' questions in parliament about whether Moscow might join the "Trump Route" in the future, Safaryan declined to make any predictions.
"I would not like to say anything about the future at this time," he said.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also emphasized that Russia's participation in TRIPP is currently not on the agenda. He confirmed, however, that transit shipments will be carried out according to the rules of the Eurasian Economic Union, as Armenia remains a member. When asked whether the project itself would operate in accordance with EAEU regulations, the diplomat affirmatively.
Safaryan's statements came shortly after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin spoke in favor of Moscow's participation in TRIPP. He emphasized that the implementation of this transport corridor would benefit significantly from Russia's involvement.
Galuzin recalled that issues related to restoring ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan had previously been discussed within the framework of a special trilateral working group involving Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
"Transit through Armenia—incidentally, regarding the Eurasian Economic Union—must be carried out in accordance with the norms and regulations of the EAEU, which Armenia, as it claims, does not want to leave. Finally, the 'Trump route' will pass through an area guarded by Russian border guards, who have been guarding Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran for decades, alongside their Armenian counterparts. So, one way or another, Russia's opinion will have to be taken into account, as will the opinion of the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore, we believe the project would only benefit from Russian participation," Galuzin stated.
