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An abandoned station, a few rusted carriages and limited stretches of railway are all that remains of former Soviet railroad in Armenia's southern region.

It may seem unlikely, this neglected section of railway in the Caucasus region has been designated to transform into an emblem of peace brokered by the US president, known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.

Dispersed throughout are remains of a statue from a memorial to a Soviet-era figure. A female statue has lost one limb.

"We stand upon the Trump route, alternatively called Peace Junction, the ancient trade route, and the Zangezur Corridor," says a local journalist. "However currently none of this looks American."

Peace Negotiations

This constitutes a longstanding conflict the US president asserts to have brought to an end, through an agreement between the Armenian government and its historical rival Azerbaijan.

The plan envisages American corporations moving in under a century-long agreement to construct the 26-mile corridor through Armenian territory along the complete frontier with Iran, creating a passageway linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan.

Rail transport, motorway and pipelines have all been pledged and Trump has spoken of corporations investing "significant funds, which will economically benefit all three of our nations".

At the site, the magnitude of the undertaking becomes apparent. This transport link must be constructed from scratch, but political hurdles far outweigh economic issues.

International Consequences

Trump's intervention could reshape the geopolitics of a region that Moscow considers as its regional domain. Conservative factions in Iran express concern and are threatening to halt the initiative.

The Tripp proposal plays a crucial role in resolving a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that originated from Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory with historical Armenian presence.

In 2023, Azerbaijan recaptured the contested area, and nearly all Armenian population were displaced. This was not the initial displacement in this conflict: in the 1990s half a million Azerbaijani citizens were displaced.

Global Participants

US mediation were enabled because of Russia's weakened position in the South Caucasus.

Over time, Russian authorities attempted towards restoring the passage that currently carries an American president's name.

Despite Moscow's suggestion for Russian security forces to guard the future road was declined, Russian units continue monitoring the section of the Armenian-Iranian frontier that has been chosen for the Trump route.

The southern Armenian province is also a key hub for international trade, and businessmen and trucks from Iran commonly appear. Iranian construction companies are constructing a new bridge that will intersect the planned corridor.

The Aras River that separates the Islamic Republic and Armenia represents the exact path the corridor will traverse.

Remains uncertain the manner in which American and Persian corporations will co-exist in Armenia, considering American participation in the Israel‑Iran war.

Regional Cooperation Prospects

There is also increased European presence in southern Armenia.

French authorities initiated military equipment transfers to Yerevan and has opened diplomatic representation in Syunik. European Union observers operates within the region, and the proposed corridor European officials view as component of an alternative route connecting Europe to Central Asia and China and avoiding Russian territory.

Ankara shows interest to capitalize on an opening created by diminished Moscow presence.

Turkish officials negotiate with Armenia to establish diplomatic ties and expressed endorsement for Tripp, which would create a direct link from Turkey to Azerbaijan through its exclave.

Armenia's government appears calm about the various competing interests. Authorities aspire for a "International Peace Junction" where all regional powers will co-operate.

"Officials claim everything will be fine and that there will be billions of euros, new roads and trade with Iran, America, Europe, Turkey and Azerbaijan," the journalist comments while expressing skepticism.

An official settlement between the two nations has not yet been signed, but one thing is clear: since the Washington meeting, no gunfire has occurred on their shared frontier.

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