Armenia Approves Bill to Formalize Role in Trump-Backed Middle Corridor Trade Route

The Armenian government approved a bill on July 16 to formalize the country's role in the development of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) , envisioned as a key node in the emerging Middle Corridor trade network.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• The bill affirms development guidelines specified in a framework agreement signed by U.S. and Armenian officials covering TRIPP, including operational and ownership structures.
• The United States is envisioned as holding a 74 percent stake in TRIPP, with the Armenian government retaining the remainder.

Ministerial Explanation

Prior to the cabinet vote, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan explained the bill's provisions and outlined the Armenian state's responsibilities for ensuring implementation of the framework agreement. He emphasized that:

• The bill contained no new provisions.
• It is consistent with the U.S.-Armenian framework agreement signed in January.
• It aligns with the provisional Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal, signed at the White House in August 2025.
• TRIPP is considered the centerpiece of the peace deal.

Next Steps

The government bill will now undergo legal review by Armenia's Constitutional Court. Provided it wins court approval, the bill will go to parliament for a vote.

TRIPP Development Co. and Future Agreements

A freshly created entity, the TRIPP Development Co. , will have a 49-year lease to build and operate the transit route. Mirzoyan noted that before construction can start, two additional agreements must be negotiated and signed:

1. A shareholders' agreement
2. A TRIPP Development Co. charter

U.S. Appointment

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department named Konstantin Sokolov, a Chicago-based private equity investor, to head a $200 million U.S. government enterprise fund designed to promote the Middle Corridor trade network's development, including TRIPP.

Background on Sokolov

According to a report published by The Guardian:

• Sokolov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and emigrated to the United States in the early 1990s.
• He was among the large-scale donors to Trump's project to build a ballroom occupying the East Wing of the White House.
• The Guardian report noted that many ballroom donors have subsequently received government advisory roles or official appointments.

By Eurasianet

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