“Trump Corridor” and Turkey’s Reaction

After the Armenia–Azerbaijan Karabakh war, plans for the Zangezur Corridor—a transport route linking Turkey to Azerbaijan via Nakhchivan—faced opposition from Iran, Russia, and Armenia. The corridor would connect Turkey to Central Asia, boosting trade and energy flow.

Recent geopolitical shifts, including Azerbaijan’s pivot toward the U.S. (with likely Israeli support) and Armenia’s growing distance from Moscow after its defeat in Karabakh, allowed Washington to broker a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The U.S. secured 99-year operational rights over the corridor, now renamed TRIPP – Trump’s International Peace and Prosperity Road.

While Ankara publicly welcomed the peace deal, it was privately frustrated that the long-desired route is now under U.S. control, limiting Turkey’s strategic autonomy. For the U.S., the corridor is a major geopolitical win—establishing a foothold at Asia’s gateway, reducing Europe’s energy dependence on Russia, and pressuring Russia, China, and Iran.

Russia’s influence in the Caucasus has sharply declined due to the Ukraine war, and China may need to reassess its Belt and Road plans. The agreement could even pave the way for a U.S. military presence in Armenia. The region is undergoing a major geopolitical realignment, with the U.S. emerging as the dominant external player.

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