The peace treaty that was facilitated by the US between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed at the White House under the US President Donald Trump, has put an end to decades of conflict and offered a rare geopolitical opportunity for Turkey. The pivotal feature in the deal is the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a corridor that runs through Armenia’s Syunik province and connects Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, and then onto Turkey.
TRIPP is a strategic link for Turkey, more than just a transit project, it’s a strategic link with the Turkic world across Central Asia, bypassing Russian and Iranian choke points. The corridor offers fresh energy flows, added trade routes, and enhanced diplomatic leverage, making Turkey a possible Eurasian trade and energy hub.
Geopolitically, TRIPP reshapes the region balance, with Russia receding influence, while Washington receives new “legitimacy” in the South Caucasus, with US proximity triggering discontent for Iran both economically and strategically. Turkey faces the challenge of nurturing relationships with Russia and Iran and benefitting from an alignment with US interests. However, if done well, Turkey may emerge as the central pivot of a re-imagined South Caucasus order, taking its place at the Western anchor of the Turkic world.
