The implementation of the TRIPP project in Armenia will allow the United States to deploy its military infrastructure in close proximity to the Iranian border, according to statements made by Alexey Shevtsov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, during the Eastern Economic Forum.
According to Shevtsov, this grants the US the capability to station its troops, private military companies, and intelligence infrastructure on Armenian territory, right along the border with Iran.
In parallel, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan noted that construction work under the TRIPP project will begin either this autumn or by next spring.
Meanwhile, expert circles present a differing view. Expert Manvelyan believes the geopolitical and economic significance of the project is greatly exaggerated, noting that if even half of its claimed potential were real, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway would not currently be operating at just 20 percent of its capacity.
Statements regarding an American military or intelligence presence highlight the sensitivity of regional security dynamics along the Russia-Armenia-Iran axis.
Shevtsov's assessment reflects Moscow's growing concerns over expanding Western influence in the South Caucasus, while contrasting expert opinions on the project's economic viability underline ongoing doubts surrounding its actual potential.
