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A deserted terminal, a few rusted carriages and limited stretches of railway are all that remains of a Soviet railway in southern Armenia.

It may seem unlikely, this neglected section of track in the South Caucasus has been designated to transform into an emblem of diplomatic peace by the US president, known as the Tripp initiative for Global Stability and Economic Growth.

Dispersed throughout are remains of a statue from a monument to a Soviet-era figure. A female statue is missing an arm.

"We are on this proposed corridor, also known as Peace Junction, the Silk Road, and the Zangezur Corridor," notes a local journalist. "But so far none of this looks American."

Peace Negotiations

This represents one of the "unendable wars" Trump claims to have brought to an end, through an agreement between the Armenian government and its long-time enemy Azerbaijan.

The proposal outlines US companies moving in under a century-long agreement to develop the 26-mile corridor through Armenia's sovereign land along the complete frontier with Iran, creating a corridor linking Azerbaijan to its separated territory of Nakhchivan.

A railway, highway and pipelines have all been pledged and the president has mentioned of corporations investing "significant funds, which will economically benefit all three of our nations".

On the ground, the scale of the challenge is clear. This transport link must be constructed from scratch, but political hurdles far outweigh economic issues.

Geopolitical Implications

The American involvement might transform the geopolitics of an area that Russia claims as its regional domain. Hardliners in Tehran are also worried and are threatening to block the project.

This peace initiative plays a crucial role in resolving a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that originated from Nagorno-Karabakh, a part of Azerbaijan with historical Armenian presence.

In 2023, Azerbaijan recaptured the disputed region, and virtually the entire Armenian population were displaced. This was not the initial displacement in this conflict: in the 1990s half a million Azerbaijani citizens were displaced.

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American diplomatic efforts became possible because of Russia's weakened position in the South Caucasus.

Over time, the Kremlin worked towards re-opening the route that currently carries an American president's name.

Despite Moscow's suggestion for its FSB border troops to protect the planned route has been rejected, Russian units continue monitoring the section of the Armenia‑Iran border that has been chosen for the Trump route.

The southern Armenian province represents an important center for international trade, and commercial vehicles and traders from Iran are a familiar sight. Persian engineering firms are building recent infrastructure that will cross the planned corridor.

The Aras River that separates the Islamic Republic and Armenia is the very line the route is set follow.

Remains uncertain how the US and Iranian companies will co-exist in Armenia, considering American participation in Middle Eastern conflicts.

International Collaboration

There is also growing Western involvement in southern Armenia.

France has recently started selling weapons to Yerevan and has opened a consulate in Syunik. An EU monitoring mission is deployed to this area, and the proposed corridor is seen by the EU as part of a "middle corridor" connecting Europe to Central Asia and China and bypassing Russia.

Ankara shows interest to benefit from opportunities arising from diminished Moscow presence.

Turkish officials negotiate with Yerevan to establish diplomatic ties and expressed endorsement for the peace initiative, which would establish a direct link from Turkey to Azerbaijan through the separated region.

Armenia's government appears calm about multiple international stakes. It wants to become a "International Peace Junction" where all regional powers can collaborate.

"They say everything will be fine and that there will be massive European investment, modern infrastructure and commercial relations involving Iran, America, Europe, Turkey and Azerbaijan," Marut Vanyan says with an incredulous smile.

A formal peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia remains unsigned, but certain facts emerge: following the American summit, no gunfire has been fired on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The presidential involvement has brought at least temporary relief to residents who long have lived in fear of resumed hostilities.