Secretary of State Marco Rubio is known for taking on many jobs at once, and on Tuesday, he donned the hat of chief U.S. trade negotiator with Armenia as he signed a strategic partnership agreement with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The agreement covers critical minerals and also bolsters cooperation on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a 27-mile rail and road corridor that would go through southern Armenia. It would enhance trade by linking Central Asia to Turkey and Europe while — crucially — bypassing Russia and Iran.
As pro-Russia sentiment continues in Armenia, Pashinyan is set on distancing his country from the former Soviet Union, which until 1991 counted Armenia as part of its federation.
UNLV Political Science Professor Dr. Nerses Kopalyan said the agreement was a game-changer for the region:
Extraordinarily important development today in US-Armenia relations, as the government-to-government framework on TRIPP proceeds with the implementation stage, while US and Armenia elevate relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. But just as importantly, US… https://t.co/i32oFc9v0z
— Professor Kopalyan (@hyepatriarch) May 26, 2026
Extraordinarily important development today in US-Armenia relations, as the government-to-government framework on TRIPP proceeds with the implementation stage, while US and Armenia elevate relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. But just as importantly, US is now a direct stakeholder and supporter of enhancing Armenia's military and defense capabilities. Special shutout to [State Department official] @JonAskonas and the entire @StateDept team for working intimately and in true partnership with @MFAofArmenia
Rubio, speaking from a signing ceremony at the Yerevan airport, concurred:
“This agreement marks the biggest step to date on making this historic route a reality, on advancing peace, and on increasing prosperity in Armenia and frankly in the region,” he said in the above video.
Russia, however, isn’t as thrilled and has threatened potential consequences as Armenia looks for an enhanced relationship with the West:
Pashinyan has sought closer ties with the US and Europe, drawing the ire of longtime ally Russia. Moscow has said that it could raise the price of gas Armenia receives from Russia if it continues to pursue greater integration with Western countries.
Armenia had historically been a close security and economic partner of Russia, but Yerevan [Amernia's capital] started to turn towards the West for alliances after the 2023 conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
Russia, which is fighting its own war in Ukraine, did not intervene militarily when Azerbaijan launched a major military offensive Nagorno-Karabakh, which had a large Armenian population and had been de facto independent since the 1990s.
MORE: Trump's New Armenia and Azerbaijan Deal Brings Gains for America at Iran's Expense
Rubio continues to be a busy man:
🚨 JUST IN: Sec. Marco Rubio, on his way back to America, stopped in Armenia to sign yet another agreement on securing CRITICAL MINERALS
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 26, 2026
HE'S WORKING HARD! 🇺🇸
Rubio has now boarded the plane to continue his journey to the USA 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HtxYCDIqIR
The Secretary of State said the critical minerals aspect of the deal would benefit both the U.S. and Armenia economically:
We are laying the groundwork for the sort of economic engagement that allows Armenians to make money and find prosperity and Americans to do the same and to do it together, which is one of the strongest ways to bind nations with one another.
The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published the framework on its website, and it’s quite detailed, but the takeaway is that there will be enhanced cooperation between the two countries on getting the minerals out of the ground, processed, and ready for market:
...the Participants plan to accomplish this through the use of economic policy tools and coordinated investment to accelerate the development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals...
Meanwhile, all Putin can do is pout.
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