At first glance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Yerevan may have appeared to be another diplomatic stop in the South Caucasus. However, according to political analyst Suren Sargsyan, the political meaning of the visit was far deeper. In his assessment, the significance of the trip was not limited to the format of official meetings or the fact that Rubio did not meet Armenia’s prime minister. The key importance lay in the agreements signed in Yerevan, which reflect Washington’s broader strategic priorities.
Washington Is Expanding the Resource Competition
According to Sargsyan, cooperation in the field of mineral resources deserves special attention.
One of the central areas of competition between Washington and Beijing in recent years has been critical minerals. The United States is attempting to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies while simultaneously strengthening its influence in resource-rich countries.
Within this policy framework, Washington has already signed similar agreements with several countries, including Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Kazakhstan.
In this context, Armenia’s involvement suggests that Yerevan is gradually becoming part of broader American economic and geopolitical calculations.
Sargsyan also recalls that one of the main reasons behind U.S. interest in Greenland is its mineral reserves, something the Trump administration has repeatedly discussed publicly.
Armenia Is Raising the Level of Relations With the U.S.
The political analyst also highlighted another important issue — Washington’s system for classifying strategic relations with foreign states.
The United States divides relations into several categories, ranging from allied relations to strategic and comprehensive partnerships.
Within that framework, Sargsyan believes Armenia has recently elevated its level of relations with the United States to some extent, although an alliance between the two countries is clearly not being discussed.
TRIPP Has Become a Key U.S. Project
According to the analyst, the central component of the visit was the TRIPP project, which has recently become one of the most important directions of American regional policy.
Sargsyan notes that Washington currently has two major priorities in the South Caucasus: advancing the TRIPP project and increasing pressure on Iran.
The strategic meaning of TRIPP is connected to the creation of new export routes for Central Asian energy resources to Europe.
The project envisions a corridor passing through the South Caucasus and Turkey while bypassing Russia and Iran, and at the same time limiting China’s influence over regional logistics.
The U.S. Is Trying to Contain China
According to Sargsyan, China has significantly expanded its influence over Central Asian energy resources in recent years and is attempting to connect them with European markets through the Belt and Road Initiative.
The United States, meanwhile, is trying to control transit routes toward Europe and thereby limit Beijing’s capabilities.
Until now, one of the main obstacles has been the fact that a substantial share of resources arriving in Azerbaijan through the Caspian Sea needed either to pass through Iranian territory or use the longer Georgian route in order to reach Turkey.
Sargsyan believes that if TRIPP becomes operational, the corridor could pass through Armenia, bypass Iran, and reduce Russian influence over regional communications.
Washington Is Advancing Its Regional Interests
According to the political analyst, the Trump administration is consistently advancing American interests in the South Caucasus by using economic, energy, and logistical tools.
In his view, Armenia’s current authorities are not only refraining from obstructing these processes, but are effectively contributing to the advancement of U.S. strategic projects in exchange for Washington’s political support.