The Russian Security Council: The United States is creating a "state within a state" on the territory of Armenia thanks to its control over the "Trump Route."

ArmInfo. The United States is creating a "state within a state" on Armenian territory thanks to its control over the so-called "Trump Route." This was stated in a comment by Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexei Shevtsov, published on the Russian Security Council website.

"Considering the terms of the agreement and current US policy, including their recent attempts to 'close' the Strait of Hormuz, the reliability of the future transport corridor appears highly questionable. In fact, in Armenia, in full accordance with classic postcolonial models, yet another 'state within a state' is being established, of which Westerners have created many in the former Soviet republics," the Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council noted.

Furthermore, according to him, it should be borne in mind that the "farmhouse" The newly established American-Armenian company will be responsible for security along the entire route, while the Armenian side will handle border and customs control. "In reality, this could mean the entry of American private military companies into Armenian territory and the establishment of American intelligence, and possibly other infrastructure, in that country, literally a few hundred meters from the Iranian border. This naturally calls into question the security of the entire route and the transportation along it," Shevtsov continued.

He also drew attention to one important detail. According to him, the Meghri section of the road, also known as the "Trump Route," will be controlled and operated by the American company for 49 years. Shevtsov emphasized that under the terms of the agreement, which recently passed through the Armenian Constitutional Court and will soon be sent to parliament for ratification, the American side will receive a 74% stake, while the Armenian side will receive 26%.

"That is, Yerevan will definitely not have a controlling stake; it may have a blocking stake, but until the company's charter is approved, nothing can be said for sure. At the same time, it has already been determined that all disputes regarding the implementation of the Trump Route agreement will be resolved in accordance with US and New York State law, and the contractor company will be granted exclusive rights to use the land. This implies that the Americans will be able to further 'filter' cargo passing through the section of the route they control. Roughly speaking, refuse to provide their services in any given case. This could be formalized, for example, as a 'sanction' "A ban on American companies (including the route operator) from cooperating with any given economic operator," the Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council noted.

As a reminder, on August 8, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a seven-point joint "Declaration of Peace" in Washington. It provides for a joint appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to terminate the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures, as well as the creation of a transport corridor through Armenian territory that will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhichevan exclave, surrounded by Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. And on January 14, 2026, the Armenian Foreign Ministry published the framework document signed with the American side in Washington for the implementation of the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP). The 12-page document outlines the project's main objectives and operating mechanisms. Among other things, the document emphasizes that Armenia intends to authorize and support the establishment of the TRIPP Development Company. The company is expected to be responsible for developing the TRIPP project, receiving an initial development right for a period of 49 years. Armenia intends to offer the United States a 74% stake in the TRIPP Development Company, while retaining 26%. This partnership is expected to be extended for an additional 50 years, with an additional ownership stake granted to the Armenian government, bringing its stake to 49%.