By Trendsetter Tribune 
Vice President JD Vance arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, on Monday, February 9, 2026, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president or vice president has visited the country. The visit is a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s strategy to solidify a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan while reducing regional reliance on Russia.+1
The “TRIPP” Corridor: A Bridge for Peace
Central to the visit is the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a proposed 43-kilometer (27-mile) road-and-rail corridor through southern Armenia.
- The Goal: To connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, bypassing Russia and Iran.
- The Structure: A U.S.-led consortium, the TRIPP Development Company (TDC), will manage the route. The U.S. will hold a 74% controlling stake for the first 49 years to ensure security and fair transit.+1
- Sovereignty: Vance emphasized that Armenia would retain sovereign authority over the route, addressing long-standing concerns in Yerevan about “extraterritorial” corridors.
Major Economic & Energy Pledges
The administration is backing its diplomatic push with significant financial and technological commitments:
- $9 Billion Nuclear Deal: Vance and Prime Minister Pashinyan signed a 123 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. This paves the way for U.S. companies to build Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Armenia, intended to replace the aging Russian-built Metsamor facility.
- Defense & Tech Exports: The U.S. confirmed it is ready to export advanced computer chips and surveillance drones (including V-BAT models) to Armenia.
- Critical Minerals: Discussions also focused on integrating Armenia into the U.S. supply chain for rare earth metals and critical minerals.
Upcoming Peace Board Meeting
Prime Minister Pashinyan confirmed he will travel to Washington on February 19, 2026, to participate in the first meeting of President Trump’s “Board of Peace.”
- The Board: First unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, this group aims to oversee global crisis resolutions, including the post-war reconstruction of Gaza and the final ratification of the Armenia-Azerbaijan treaty.
- Ratification Status: While the peace treaty text was initialed in August 2025, it still awaits final signatures and parliamentary ratification. Azerbaijan continues to demand that Armenia amend its constitution to remove any historical claims to the Karabakh region before a final deal is closed.+1
The Milan Stopover
Before arriving in the South Caucasus, the Vice President and his wife, Usha, spent four days in Milan attending the Winter Olympics with their children. This personal backdrop stood in stark contrast to the high-stakes diplomacy in Yerevan, where flags of both nations lined the streets—though some protestors were visible, highlighting the internal divisions within Armenia regarding the “Trump Route” deal.