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A deserted terminal, a few rusted carriages and a dozen metres of track are all that remains of former Soviet railroad in Armenia's southern region.

While appearing improbable, this derelict stretch of railway in the Caucasus region has been designated to transform into an emblem of diplomatic peace by America's leader, referred to as the Tripp initiative for Global Stability and Economic Growth.

Dispersed throughout are fragments of a head from a monument to a Soviet-era figure. A woman's sculpture is missing an arm.

"We stand upon this proposed corridor, also known as Crossroads of Peace, the Silk Road, and the regional passageway," says a local journalist. "However currently nothing here looks American."

Peace Negotiations

This represents one of the "unendable wars" the US president asserts to have brought to an end, through an agreement between the Armenian government and its long-time enemy Azerbaijan.

The plan envisages American corporations establishing presence under a 99-year deal to develop the 43km route through Armenia's sovereign land along its entire border with Iran, establishing a corridor linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan.

Rail transport, motorway and pipelines have all been pledged and Trump has spoken of corporations investing "a lot of money, that will financially advantage the three participating countries".

At the site, the magnitude of the undertaking becomes apparent. This connectivity project must be constructed from scratch, but diplomatic obstacles far outweigh economic issues.

International Consequences

The American involvement might transform international relations of a region that Moscow considers as its regional domain. Conservative factions in Iran are also worried and are threatening to halt the initiative.

This peace initiative is key to ending longstanding tensions between the two neighboring nations that originated from Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory with historical Armenian presence.

During 2023, Azerbaijani forces regained the disputed region, and virtually the entire ethnic Armenians fled their homes. This was not the initial displacement in these hostilities: during the 1990s half a million Azerbaijani citizens were displaced.

Global Participants

American diplomatic efforts became possible because of Russia's weakened position in this strategic region.

For years, Russian authorities attempted towards restoring the passage that now bears US presidential designation.

Despite Moscow's suggestion for Russian security forces to guard the future road has been rejected, they still patrol the section of the Armenian-Iranian frontier that was selected as the Trump route.

The southern Armenian province represents a key hub for international trade, and businessmen and trucks from Iran commonly appear. Persian engineering firms are building a new bridge that will cross the future Tripp.

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

It is unclear how the US and Iranian companies will co-exist in Armenia, given recent US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.

International Collaboration

There is also growing Western involvement in southern Armenia.

France has recently started selling weapons to Yerevan and has opened a consulate in Syunik. European Union observers operates within this area, and the future Trump route is seen by the EU as part of a "middle corridor" linking it with Central Asia and China and avoiding Russian territory.

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

Turkish officials negotiate with Yerevan to establish diplomatic ties and expressed endorsement for Tripp, which would create immediate connectivity from Turkish territory to Azerbaijan through the separated region.

Yerevan's administration shows composure about multiple international stakes. Authorities aspire for a "Crossroads of Peace" where every neighboring nation will co-operate.

"Officials claim everything will be fine and that there will be massive European investment, modern infrastructure and trade with Iran, America, Europe, Turkey and Azerbaijan," Marut Vanyan says while expressing skepticism.

A formal peace treaty between the two nations remains unsigned, but certain facts emerge: since the Washington meeting, not a single shot has occurred on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The presidential involvement has brought at least temporary relief to residents who long experienced anxiety of renewed fighting.