US State Department: Border and Customs Operations Along TRIPP Route Will Remain Under Armenian Control

WASHINGTON, DC — All border security and customs operations along the TRIPP route will remain under Armenia’s control, the U.S. Department of State said in response to questions from RFE/RL’s Armenian Service regarding the application of Eurasian Economic Union regulations to the route.

Armenia’s deputy foreign minister recently said that TRIPP, which is expected to connect Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan through Armenia’s Syunik Province, would operate in accordance with EAEU transit regulations.

RFE/RL asked the State Department whether the United States, as a participant in TRIPP, had agreed that the transit route would operate under the EAEU regulatory framework. It also asked whether customs transit procedures under TRIPP would be governed by EAEU regulations and, if so, whether Armenia and the United States had already reached an understanding or agreement on the issue.

The State Department responded briefly:

“TRIPP preserves Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction. All border security and customs operations will remain under Armenian control. Armenian authorities will exercise oversight and make key decisions.”

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan previously did not rule out the possibility that direct services for travelers using the route, including face-to-face interactions, could be delegated to an operator from a third country. Such personnel could collect documents for inspection and receive transit payments.

The State Department did not answer another question from RFE/RL about whether the United States planned to introduce changes to the existing regulatory framework or establish separate transit rules for TRIPP.

Asked whether Washington had discussed the matter with the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities, a State Department spokesperson said only that the United States continued to work with the Azerbaijani government on the priorities outlined in their strategic partnership document.

Those priorities include regional connectivity, economic investment, energy, security cooperation and artificial intelligence.

Washington also declined to disclose how much funding the United States has allocated to the TRIPP project to date. The spokesperson said that no additional details could be provided at this time.