Will Russia and Iran Be Forced to ‘Restore Order’ in the Caucasus?
Monday, February 16, 2026
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The US has secured a 74% stake in a 43-kilometer corridor across southern Armenia, part of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), which aims to connect Azerbaijan to its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, potentially cutting out Iran and Russia from trade connectivity.
Russia, which had previously brokered a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has been pushed aside in favor of US interests, with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk warning that Armenia's potential exit from the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) could shrink its exports by 70-80% and lead to skyrocketing energy and food prices.
Iranian and Russian officials are increasingly calling for more forceful action to counter the growing US and NATO presence in the Caucasus, with Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov suggesting a "special military operation" in Armenia may be necessary to protect national security interests.
