Baku | July 14, 2025 — The Zangezur Corridor, a strategic route linking mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan through Armenia’s Syunik province, is once again under the global spotlight following comments from a U.S. diplomat suggesting possible American management of the route.
According to Middle East Eye, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack told reporters in New York that Washington is willing to lease the 32-kilometer stretch of road for 100 years, positioning an American company as a neutral operator to ease tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “It’s just 32 kilometers, but it’s been a flashpoint for decades,” Barrack noted. “The U.S. could say, ‘Fine, lease it to us for 100 years, and everyone can use it.’”
This is reportedly the first public confirmation of earlier reports that the Trump administration had floated a plan to place the corridor under the supervision of a private American firm. The idea, initially proposed by Turkey, faced opposition from Armenia, which demanded the same operator also control the Nakhchivan section — a condition rejected by Baku.
Official reactions were swift. Armenian Prime Minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan dismissed the proposal as “unacceptable and legally impossible,” stressing that Armenia will not cede control of its sovereign territory to any third party.
Turkey, meanwhile, claimed to be unaware of the plan. “We have no knowledge of this,” a source from President Erdoğan’s office said.
In Russia, the proposal was taken seriously. Senior lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin called the U.S. move “a real plan, not a bluff,” interpreting it as a strategic push to dominate a vital segment of the Middle Corridor and sideline Moscow.
Washington’s Agenda and Regional Pushback
The U.S. offer comes amid renewed efforts to mediate a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump both expressed optimism that a final agreement could be reached soon. Trump told reporters alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that “the conflict will soon be resolved, and the U.S. has taken concrete steps to help.”
American outlet Washington Examiner praised the idea as a potential breakthrough: “Outsourcing control to a neutral third party could break the deadlock and offer hope in a region plagued by Russian-induced instability.”
However, Azerbaijani analysts see the plan differently. Political expert Ilgar Velizade told 1news.az that the U.S. proposal appears out of touch with the reality on the ground. “This isn’t the Panama Canal,” he said, referring to past U.S. control of global chokepoints. “The region has changed since the 2020 war. The U.S. missed its chance to be a relevant mediator.”
Velizade noted that neither Baku nor Ankara was consulted. He pointed out that Armenia, after previously floating the idea of international oversight, has recently shifted its stance following bilateral talks with Turkey and Azerbaijan in Istanbul and Abu Dhabi.
“We Can Handle This Ourselves”
The prevailing sentiment in Baku is that the region no longer needs third-party mediators or administrators. “We are capable of resolving regional issues without foreign involvement,” Velizade said. “The new reality, shaped by Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day war, must be respected by all.”
Critics argue that the U.S. approach lacks local insight and that any long-term lease—like the proposed 100-year arrangement—raises questions about future sovereignty and accountability. For now, both Armenia and Azerbaijan appear aligned in rejecting the American proposal.
