The TRIPP project is vital for establishing long-awaited peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and for expanding trade routes across Eurasia, former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta said in comments to Azertac.
Cekuta noted that recent U.S.–Central Asia discussions focused on strengthening broader economic ties. But when it comes to transporting rare earth elements, uranium, and other critical minerals, he stressed that major upgrades to regional rail and road systems will be essential.
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“I think all of this needs to be done now, for two main reasons. First, there is a shared vision for integrating and developing Central Asia and Eurasia. Second, there is the need to design and implement a durable peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We need stronger U.S. engagement on this. That’s why we must act now,” he said.
Cekuta emphasized that geography itself drives the logic of TRIPP:
“If you want access to Eurasia while bypassing Russia or Iran, you have to go through Azerbaijan. It is crucial to work together with Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey to build this infrastructure and make it real. We need to work on this right away.”
