By Seda Sevencan
ISTANBUL (AA) - The US will provide $145 million in assistance to Armenia as part of efforts to expand regional connectivity and economic development, an official announced Thursday.
Brendan Hanrahan, the senior bureau official for the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, said in a post on the US social media company X’s platform that he was excited to “advance the commitments made by our countries at (US President Donald) Trump's historic peace summit.”
“Here in Yerevan, I am thrilled to announce that, working with Congress, we plan to provide $145 million in assistance for Armenia, which marks the first major step toward making TRIPP a reality. Enjoyed productive discussions on our shared goals for expanding regional connectivity and economic investment,” he said.
He was referring to the Trump Route for Peace & Prosperity, a US-backed connectivity initiative for the Caucasus region, specifically the Zangezur Corridor, which aims to link Azerbaijan, Armenia and Türkiye.
Azerbaijan and Armenia released the text of the peace agreement they signed last month at a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted by Trump in Washington, DC.
The 17-point document confirmed the mutual recognition of borders along former Soviet Union lines, the renunciation of territorial claims and a pledge to refrain from the use of force.
It also laid out commitments to establish diplomatic ties, negotiate border delimitation and set up a bilateral commission to oversee implementation.
Both sides agreed to withdraw mutual claims in international courts once the deal takes effect.
The agreement followed decades of hostilities, including wars since the late 1980s and a 2023 conflict when Azerbaijan restored control over Karabakh.