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An abandoned station, several corroded railcars and limited stretches of railway are all that remains of a Soviet railway in Armenia's southern region.

While appearing improbable, this neglected section of track in the South Caucasus has been selected to become a symbol of diplomatic peace by the US president, referred to as the Tripp initiative for Global Stability and Economic Growth.

Scattered around are remains of a statue from a memorial to a Soviet-era figure. A female statue is missing an arm.

"We stand upon the Trump route, also known as Crossroads of Peace, the Silk Road, and the regional passageway," says Marut Vanyan. "But so far none of this appears Western."

Regional Conflict Resolution

This constitutes a longstanding conflict the US president asserts to have brought to an end, through a diplomatic settlement between the Armenian government and its long-time enemy Azerbaijan.

The plan envisages US companies establishing presence under a century-long agreement to construct the 26-mile corridor through Armenian territory along the complete frontier with Iran, establishing a passageway linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan.

Rail transport, motorway and pipelines are all promised and the president has mentioned of corporations investing "a lot of money, which will economically benefit all three of our nations".

At the site, the magnitude of the undertaking becomes apparent. This connectivity project will have to be built from scratch, but political hurdles significantly exceed financial considerations.

Geopolitical Implications

Trump's intervention might transform international relations of a region that Russia claims as its regional domain. Hardliners in Tehran are also worried and are threatening to block the project.

This peace initiative is key to ending a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that originated from Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory historically populated by.

In 2023, Azerbaijan recaptured the contested area, and virtually the entire Armenian population fled their homes. This didn't represent the first such expulsion in this conflict: during the 1990s half a million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees.

Global Participants

US mediation were enabled because of Moscow's diminished influence in the South Caucasus.

Over time, the Kremlin worked towards re-opening the route that currently carries an American president's name.

Despite Moscow's suggestion for its FSB border troops to guard the future road was declined, Russian units continue monitoring the section of the Armenia‑Iran border that has been chosen for the Trump route.

Armenia's Syunik region is also a key hub for its exports, and businessmen and trucks from Iran commonly appear. Iranian construction companies are building a new bridge that will cross the future Tripp.

This border waterway that separates the Islamic Republic and Armenia is the very line the route is set follow.

It is unclear how the US and Iranian companies can operate together in Armenia, given recent US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.

International Collaboration

There is also growing Western involvement in southern Armenia.

French authorities initiated military equipment transfers to Yerevan and established a consulate in Syunik. European Union observers is deployed to the region, and the future Trump route European officials view as component of an alternative route linking it with Asian markets and bypassing Russia.

Ankara shows interest to benefit from opportunities arising from diminished Moscow presence.

Ankara is in talks with Armenia to establish diplomatic ties and has voiced support for Tripp, which would establish immediate connectivity from Turkish territory to Azerbaijan through its exclave.

Armenia's government appears calm about the various competing interests. It wants to become a "International Peace Junction" where every neighboring nation will co-operate.

"They say conditions will improve and that we can expect billions of euros, new roads and commercial relations involving Iran, America, Europe, Turkey and Azerbaijan," the journalist comments while expressing skepticism.

A formal peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia remains unsigned, but one thing is clear: since the Washington meeting, no gunfire has been fired on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The presidential involvement has provided some immediate respite to those who for years have lived in fear of resumed hostilities.