On September 9, representatives of the Certified U.S. Trade Mission visited Azerbaijan to discuss expanding cooperation on the Middle Corridor. On the same day, the delegation was received by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov.
During the talks, the parties discussed diversifying trade and energy routes, as well as prospects for strengthening economic ties between Baku and Washington. The Azerbaijani side invited American companies to make greater use of the country’s favorable investment climate and to participate in joint projects in the fields of transport, energy, and logistics. The strategic role of the Middle Corridor as a factor contributing to regional stability and the growth of mutual trade was also emphasized.
Notably, the visit coincided with intensified contacts both between Azerbaijan and Armenia and between Armenia and Turkey on border and transport infrastructure issues. Last week, delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Prime Ministers Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan, paid working visits to each other. They discussed border delimitation, demining, as well as the restoration and construction of facilities necessary for synchronizing actions in the region. This week, a meeting is expected between representatives of Armenia and Turkey on normalizing bilateral relations. Armenia’s special representative on this track, Ruben Rubinyan, stated: “From the Armenian side, there are no problems with delays. We are ready to open the borders and establish diplomatic relations as early as tomorrow.”
All these developments fit into the broader context of implementing the Washington agreements related to the creation of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP, the Zangezur Corridor). Washington apparently seeks to achieve practical agreements in the near future, possibly by the end of the year.
The Armenian side has meanwhile announced an upcoming visit of an American delegation to Yerevan, “including for the implementation of the ‘Trump Route.’” According to Armenian MFA spokesperson Ani Badalyan, details of the discussions will be presented later. As part of the project, the construction and modernization of roads, railways, checkpoints, and logistics hubs are planned, aimed at accelerating the movement of goods, improving regional connectivity, and creating new opportunities for business.
According to media reports, the agreements of August 8 secured exclusive rights for the U.S. to develop the corridor. Infrastructure management will be transferred to an American consortium, which will lease it under Armenia’s jurisdiction. Nine firms, including three American operators, have already expressed interest in implementing the project. Although the specific names of the companies have not been disclosed, it is reported that the consortium will work on developing railways, oil and gas pipelines, fiber-optic networks, and possibly power transmission lines.
In practice, investment in the project will be borne by the American side in coordination with the Armenian government.
Thus, the visit of the American trade mission to Baku and the upcoming talks in Yerevan are not separate episodes but part of a unified strategy to shape a new transport map of the region. This strategy allows Azerbaijan to strengthen its status as a key transit hub, gives Armenia a chance to overcome transport isolation and modernize its infrastructure, and enables all other participants to pursue their interests in the region on a mutually beneficial basis.
Ilgar Velizade
