US considering possibility of trade route through Armenia and Azerbaijan, bypassing Russia and China

The US is considering the possibility of creating a new land route from the countries of Central Asia to the global markets through the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan, bypassing Russia and China, James O’Brien, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said during the Hearing on the Future of Europe.

“Central Asian countries are incredibly rich, and right now their only option to the global markets is through Russia or China. If we can open up a route that goes through Azerbaijan and Armenia, then they will have access to global markets and much less dependence on Russia and China,” he said.

According to O’Brien, Armenia and Azerbaijan have already agreed on the demarcation process.

“The two sides have agreed to a border demarcation process. They have agreed on what the lines are. There are some territories that each side still occupies, that, according to the line they have agreed, will probably end up going back the other way. The highlands are of particular interest, but that is a process that the two sides are working on. There is a peace agreement under negotiation that defers the border demarcation to another channel in the peace process,” he said.