Russian official says Trump Route agreement upset regional balance in South Caucasus

MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. The signing of the agreement to implement the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity project has upset the regional balance in the South Caucasus, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said in an interview with TASS. "The problem is that these signatures triggered deeper processes. They upset the regional balance that had existed since the Treaty of Turkmenchay was concluded in 1828," he said. The lands of the Erivan and Nakhichevan Khanates were then ceded to the Russian Empire, with the border established along the geographical boundary, the Aras River, Overchuk explained. Since then, it has been a generally peaceful border ensured by agreements between the two great neighbors, he added. Overchuk emphasized that Moscow’s participation in the trilateral working group of deputy prime ministers allowed for a balance of interests among all countries present, taking into account Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, territorial integrity, and economic interests. "Azerbaijan was constructive, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, already negotiating with the EAEU on mutual market openings, did not experience the threats posed by the American invitation to the northern bank of the Aras," he said. "Now, Armenia has declared that this project will be carried out without Russia, Turkey has already begun spending funds on the construction of the railway to Nakhichevan, and the prospects for restoring the Meghri section have become less clear. All of this is putting pressure on Armenia. The reluctance to include Russia in the negotiations to unblock the railway was a big mistake," the official noted.