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A deserted terminal, a few rusted carriages and limited stretches of railway are all that remains of a Soviet railway in Armenia's southern region.

It may seem unlikely, this neglected section of railway in the Caucasus region has been designated to transform into an emblem of diplomatic peace by America's leader, referred to as the Tripp initiative for Global Stability and Economic Growth.

Dispersed throughout are remains of a statue from a monument to a Soviet-era figure. A woman's sculpture is missing an arm.

"We stand upon the Trump route, also known as Crossroads of Peace, the Silk Road, and the regional passageway," says a local journalist. "However currently nothing here looks American."

Peace Negotiations

This constitutes one of the "unendable wars" the US president asserts to have successfully resolved, through a diplomatic settlement between the Armenian government and its historical rival Azerbaijan.

The proposal outlines US companies moving in under a century-long agreement to develop the 43km route through Armenian territory along its entire border with Iran, creating a corridor linking Azerbaijan to its separated territory of Nakhchivan.

Rail transport, highway and energy conduits are all promised and Trump has spoken of companies spending "significant funds, that will financially advantage the three participating countries".

On the ground, the scale of the challenge becomes apparent. This transport link will have to be built from scratch, but diplomatic obstacles significantly exceed economic issues.

Geopolitical Implications

The American involvement could reshape international relations of an area that Russia claims as its regional domain. Hardliners in Tehran are also worried and have warned to block the project.

This peace initiative plays a crucial role in resolving longstanding tensions between the two neighboring nations that originated from Nagorno-Karabakh, a part of Azerbaijan with historical Armenian presence.

In 2023, Azerbaijani forces regained the contested area, and virtually the entire ethnic Armenians fled their homes. This was not the initial displacement in these hostilities: in the 1990s half a million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees.

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American diplomatic efforts became possible because of Russia's weakened position in the South Caucasus.

For years, Russian authorities attempted towards restoring the passage that now bears an American president's name.

Despite Moscow's suggestion for its FSB border troops to guard the future road has been rejected, they still patrol the section of the Armenia‑Iran border that was selected as the Trump route.

The southern Armenian province represents a key hub for international trade, and businessmen and trucks from Iran commonly appear. Persian engineering firms are constructing a new bridge that will intersect the planned corridor.

This border waterway that separates the Islamic Republic and Armenia represents the exact path the corridor will traverse.

It is unclear how the US and Iranian companies will co-exist in Armenia, considering American participation in Middle Eastern conflicts.

Regional Cooperation Prospects

There is also increased European presence in southern Armenia.

France has recently started military equipment transfers to Armenian leadership and established a consulate in Syunik. European Union observers is deployed to the region, and the future Trump route European officials view as part of a "middle corridor" connecting Europe to Asian markets and bypassing Russia.

Turkey is also eager to benefit from an opening created by diminished Moscow presence.

Ankara is in talks with Yerevan to normalise relations and has voiced support for the peace initiative, which would create a direct link from Turkey to Azerbaijan through its exclave.

Yerevan's administration shows composure about the various competing interests. It wants to become a "Crossroads of Peace" where every neighboring nation will co-operate.

"Officials claim conditions will improve and that we can expect massive European investment, modern infrastructure and commercial relations involving Iran, America, Europe, Turkey and Azerbaijan," Marut Vanyan says with an incredulous smile.

An official settlement between the two nations remains unsigned, but one thing is clear: since the Washington meeting, not a single shot has been fired on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

Trump's intervention has provided some immediate respite to residents who long have lived in fear of renewed fighting.