Civilnet
By Arshaluis Mgdesyan
Armenia’s customs service will exercise full control over the so-called “Trump Route” linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik province, the head of the country’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) told CivilNet in an interview on Friday.
“This is unequivocal,” Eduard Hakobyan said, stressing that the route will operate under Armenian jurisdiction and in line with Eurasian Economic Union’s regulations.
Hakobyan added that the principles outlined in the Washington declaration signed on August 8 by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States provide for the operation of Armenian state services on the transit route, including border and customs.
“All types of procedures that operate on the rest of Armenia’s checkpoints will function there as well. There will be customs,” he said.
The declaration’s fourth clause introduced the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) program, pledging that all unblocked transport links will remain under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the states concerned. It also promised to secure uninterrupted communication between mainland Azerbaijan and its exclave Nakhichevan while boosting Armenia’s own international and domestic connectivity.
Hakobyan emphasized that Armenia’s current customs policy aims at “total simplification” to stimulate trade, pointing to automated release systems, 24/7 service for exporters, and a new notification system for remote processing. He added that a unified digital platform is being developed to reduce bureaucratic contact for businesses and citizens.
Capacity-building in cooperation with U.S. partners is also part of the agenda, Hakobyan said, citing a second memorandum of understanding that foresees training and technical support. “This is about investment and institutional assistance, not operational foreign presence at customs posts,” he underlined.
He acknowledged that the specific customs model for the road has yet to be designed, calling it a matter for future technical talks.
“At the stage of implementing political agreements, SRC will be fully involved in developing systems and strengthening staff capacity,” he said.
Following the event in Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry voiced concern that U.S. involvement in Syunik’s customs regime could clash with EEU’s regulations. Hakobyan dismissed such worries: “If our state delivers the service, our customs will be present, and thus EEU rules will apply.”
His remarks follow weeks of debate triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal was “pretty close,” with Washington floating a long-term lease model for the 42-kilometer Syunik route. Yerevan has repeatedly rejected any proposal involving extraterritorial arrangements, insisting that all transit links must remain under Armenian sovereignty.
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