Armenia Approves US-Controlled Transport Corridor Through Its Territory
Armenia has reportedly agreed to allow the United States to manage a strategic transport corridor through its territory, a claim made by a Spanish news outlet. According to the report, the corridor would stretch 42 kilometers and connect Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan, with a US firm managing the route and around 1,050 private contractors providing security for 99 years. The Armenian government has denied the report, calling it manipulative propaganda, while the Spanish outlet has described it as a potential turning point in the region’s geopolitics.
Armenia, a small, landlocked country in the South Caucasus, has long faced tensions with its neighbor Azerbaijan, which in 2023 reclaimed control of the breakaway region of Karabakh. The report, published by the Spanish outlet Periodista Digital, claims to have obtained a copy of a memorandum from unnamed members of the Armenian diaspora in France, outlining the creation of the new corridor. The document, reportedly approved by the US, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, suggests a long-term agreement with the US overseeing the corridor and private contractors protecting it.
Periodista Digital described the document as “a catastrophe” for Armenia, claiming it would strengthen the position of the US and its regional rivals, Azerbaijan and Turkey, while also damaging Armenia’s relationship with France. In response, the Armenian government dismissed the report as part of a broader effort involving hybrid warfare and manipulative propaganda, labeling Periodista Digital as a dubious source. The US and Azerbaijan have not yet commented on the matter.
Meanwhile, ongoing diplomatic talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue over the status of Karabakh and the control of Nakhchivan, a region currently under Azerbaijani control. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously rejected proposals to establish a transport corridor to Nakhchivan, emphasizing that any resolution must be based on mutual respect for territorial integrity and equality. However, the potential for a US-led corridor could complicate these efforts, raising concerns about regional stability and the balance of power in the South Caucasus.
Analysts suggest that while the report has not been independently verified, its implications could be significant for the region. The involvement of a US company in managing a critical transport route through Armenian territory could signal a shift in the power dynamics of the South Caucasus, potentially altering the economic and strategic landscape for all involved parties.
As the situation continues to evolve, the Armenian government’s stance on the matter will be crucial in determining the future of regional relations and the extent of any potential foreign involvement in Armenian territory.