Construction of new roads between Armenia and Azerbaijan is  beneficial for South Caucasus

ArmInfo. Nothing can replace Georgia's unique strategic role in the region. Georgian  Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili stated this on the Imedi LIVE program, commenting on new transport initiatives between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to her, Georgia's strategic location makes the country a  key transportation hub, and the lack of new roads or routes will  weaken Georgia's potential in this regard.

"I truly don't see any risk in this, and none exists. If we have such  concerns, someone will start scaring us by saying Georgia will  disappear from the map. Georgia will definitely not disappear from  the map," Bochorishvili said, according to Channel One Georgia.

The Georgian Foreign Minister noted that the construction of new  roads is an important asset for the region.  According to her  assessment, there are certain attempts that contribute to the  reduction of Georgia's strategic role, but the reality is that,  despite the emergence of new directions, Georgia retains its  strategic significance on the global geopolitical map.

"Whatever we discuss, today we are actively talking about building  new roads between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which, we can confidently  and calmly say, is beneficial for the region. If this develops and  new roads are added to our region, our region's value in terms of  transport accessibility will only increase. But it is unthinkable  that any road could replace Georgia as long as this road exists,  operates, and develops for so long. Demand is growing every year, not  declining. Even if three or four more routes are added, this will  likely not be enough for everything that is happening today between  the West and the East when it comes to freight turnover. Therefore,  some are trying to exploit the relations between Azerbaijan and  Armenia in relation to Georgia and presenting or asking ambiguous  questions: What do you think of this? We view all this positively; we  are happy, we like it, and we do not see it as a competing road with  the road passing through Georgia," the Georgian Foreign Minister  concluded. On January 14, the Armenian Foreign Ministry published a  framework document signed with the American side in Washington on the  implementation of the Trump Roadmap for International Peace and  Prosperity (TRIPP). The 12-page document outlines the project's main  objectives and operational mechanisms.

Among other things, the document emphasizes Armenia's intention 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, retaining 26%. This partnership is  expected to be extended for another 50 years, with an additional  ownership stake granted to the Armenian government, bringing its  stake to 49%.

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.