U.S. Opportunism in the Caucasus: Is a “Trump Road” Emerging?
The Armenian government is giving the United States the right to develop and control the Zangezur Corridor for 99 years, which observers believe will bring billions of dollars in economic benefits to American companies and challenge the influence of Iran, Russia and China in the region.
According to the Tasnim News Agency International Group, international media are reporting a historic agreement between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, directly brokered by the United States, under which Washington will take control of a strategic transit corridor on Armenian territory for 99 years; a move that analysts see as an attempt to change the geopolitics of the South Caucasus and eliminate regional rivals such as Iran and Russia.
US President Donald Trump, while approving the agreement, has announced that he will host the heads of the two countries at the White House to sign a peace treaty.
Washington to take control of Zangezur Corridor for 99 years
According to reports published by Western media, Armenia is preparing to cede the right to develop a 43-kilometer transit corridor to the United States.
CBS News reported this news, and the British newspaper The Guardian also wrote: “It is expected that the transit corridor will eventually include railway lines, oil and gas pipelines, as well as fiber optic cables to facilitate the movement of goods and people.”
The newspaper adds that the construction of the project will be financed not by the US government, but by private companies.
Meanwhile, the Politico magazine, citing three senior American officials, revealed more details and reported: “Armenia has agreed to grant the United States the exclusive right to develop the Zangezur Corridor for a period of 99 years. The United States will also lease this land to a consortium for the development of railways, oil, gas, fiber optics, and possibly power transmission lines.