Vance arrives in Armenia for first-ever US vice presidential visit
Vice President JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday, becoming the first sitting US vice president to visit the country, as Washington moves to solidify a peace framework between Armenia and Azerbaijan while expanding American influence in the strategically important South Caucasus.
The two-day visit to Armenia runs through February 10 and will be followed by a trip to Azerbaijan from February 10 to 11, according to a spokesperson for Vance. During his stay in Armenia, Vance is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, after which the two leaders are expected to deliver public remarks.
The visit is centered on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, known as TRIPP, a proposed 43-kilometer road and rail corridor through southern Armenia. The project would connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhitchevan exclave and establish a new east–west trade artery designed to bypass both Russia and Iran.
The corridor was formalized through an agreement signed at the White House in August 2025, which President Donald Trump and Azerbaijani officials described as a first step toward peace after nearly four decades of conflict. Under arrangements announced in January, Armenia will grant the United States a 74 percent stake in the TRIPP Development Company for 49 years, along with exclusive rights to develop rail, oil, gas, and fiber-optic infrastructure along the route.
Joshua Kucera, senior South Caucasus analyst at the Crisis Group, said the visit is expected to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to completing the Trump Route, noting that even limited US engagement can carry significant weight in the region.
The diplomatic push comes as Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus has weakened sharply due to Moscow’s focus on the war in Ukraine. Analysts say Russia’s failure to prevent the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and subsequent regional tensions has undermined its long-standing role as the dominant power broker in the Caucasus.
Rauf Mirgadirov, an analyst at the Baku-based newspaper Ayna-Zerkalo, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that after more than 30 years of conflict over Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan are now closer to one another and increasingly distancing themselves from Russia.
Vance is accompanied by Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. President Trump has outlined an ambitious agenda for the trip, including a proposed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Armenia, deals benefiting US semiconductor companies, and the sale of US-made defense equipment such as body armor and boats to Azerbaijan.
The visit follows Vance’s appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy on February 6, where he led the US delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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