U.S. and Armenia commit to advancing corridor for Azerbaijan

The United States and Armenia have reaffirmed their commitment to a pact aimed at constructing a land corridor through Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan with its isolated exclave of Nakhchivan. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, during a stopover in the Armenian capital to discuss the project.

The proposed development includes building a road and a railway. Rubio hailed the agreement as a significant step toward realizing this historic route, promoting peace, and increasing prosperity in Armenia and the wider region. This initiative represents a major advancement for the project.

Armenia, historically aligned with Russia, has increasingly sought closer ties with the West. This shift intensified after Russia's perceived inaction during Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive, which resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control of the separatist region of Karabakh. In response, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government froze Armenia's membership in the Russia-led military alliance CSTO and has expressed interest in joining the European Union, much to the Kremlin's displeasure.

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This agreement represents the biggest advance to date in making this historic route a reality, promoting peace and increasing prosperity in Armenia and, frankly, in the region.