Civil Contract lawmaker Sargis Khandanyan said the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is an infrastructure project and will not involve a foreign military or security presence on Armenian territory.

Speaking in parliament, Khandanyan rejected opposition comparisons between TRIPP and the Lachin Corridor, saying the project is governed by agreements that preserve Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the route.

“The TRIPP is an infrastructure project,” Khandanyan said, adding that it is neither a “territory” nor a “military base.” He said the documents published so far, as well as the agreement to be considered by parliament, do not provide for such an arrangement. Khandanyan also stated that no security forces from another country would operate within TRIPP.

Khandanyan also referred to the wider process of reopening regional transport links, saying it had already started, although implementation remains limited. He pointed to the use of Azerbaijan’s railway by Armenia in recent months and the lifting of restrictions on the Akhalkalaki–Kars railway as examples of progress in restoring regional connectivity.

The framework agreement between Armenia and the United States on TRIPP also keeps border, customs, and security functions under Armenian jurisdiction, including control over borders, customs operations, taxation, government data systems, and state oversight. Armenia retains the right to maintain a physical presence at border-control facilities.