Tag: Donald Trump
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025 brought a distinct set of priorities to US engagement in the South Caucasus. The Trump administration’s signature regional initiative has been the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a connectivity proposal centered on opening the Zangezur Corridor through Armenia to link Turkey and Azerbaijan — and potentially extending to regional economic integration. The proposal has been controversial in Armenia, where many view it as pressure to make territorial concessions to Azerbaijan under the banner of economic development.
More broadly, the Trump administration’s approach to the South Caucasus reflects its transactional foreign policy: prioritizing deal-making, reducing emphasis on democracy and human rights conditions, and recalibrating relationships with traditional allies and adversaries alike. For Armenia, this has meant navigating a US posture that is simultaneously a potential counterweight to Russia and a source of pressure on the peace process.
Groong has covered Trump’s impact on Armenian affairs extensively, from the TRIPP proposal and its reception in Yerevan to US-Armenia security cooperation, Congressional dynamics, and how Trump-era US foreign policy compares with the Biden approach to the South Caucasus.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
- 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
- 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
- 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
- 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
- 01:18:51 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
- 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
- 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
- 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
- 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
- 01:18:51 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia - Ruben Melikyan | Ep #117 - Feb 4, 2022 [EP117]
Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Human Rights | Series: cog
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan
Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakhâs Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the âPath of Lawâ NGO. Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸ÖÕ²Õ« in Armenian.
Topics:
- Introduction
- Decisions of the International Court of Justice
- Turkish-Armenian âNormalizationâ
- More Constitutional Changes
- Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
- Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
- Legislating Away Civil Liberties
Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia - Ruben Melikyan | Ep #117 - Feb 4, 2022 [EP117]
Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Human RightsLegal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan
Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakhâs Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the âPath of Lawâ NGO. Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸ÖÕ²Õ« in Armenian.
Topics:
- Introduction
- Decisions of the International Court of Justice
- Turkish-Armenian âNormalizationâ
- More Constitutional Changes
- Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
- Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
- Legislating Away Civil Liberties
Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022
Ukraine | Antalya | Army Day in Armenia | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ep #116 - Jan 30, 2022 [EP116]
Posted on Monday, Jan 31, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, Ukraine, Armenian Genocide, Economy, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Human Rights, USA | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 30, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:43 Game of Chicken over Ukraine
- 08:17 Antalya Diplomatic Forum
- 22:54 Army Day in Armenia
- 27:54 Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 31:11 Rants/Announcements
Guests:
- Suren Sargsyan https://twitter.com/s_a_sargsyan
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 116 | Recorded: Sunday, January 30, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220130.html
Ukraine | Antalya | Army Day in Armenia | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ep #116 - Jan 30, 2022 [EP116]
Posted on Monday, Jan 31, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, Ukraine, Armenian Genocide, Economy, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Human Rights, USAANN/Groong Week in Review - January 30, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:43 Game of Chicken over Ukraine
- 08:17 Antalya Diplomatic Forum
- 22:54 Army Day in Armenia
- 27:54 Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 31:11 Rants/Announcements
Guests:
- Suren Sargsyan https://twitter.com/s_a_sargsyan
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 116 | Recorded: Sunday, January 30, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220130.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:04 President Armen Sarkissian Resigns
- 20:46 Russia-NATO Standoff over Ukraine
- 47:55 Vahan Kerobyan, Minister of Comedy
Guests:
- Dr. Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:04 President Armen Sarkissian Resigns
- 20:46 Russia-NATO Standoff over Ukraine
- 47:55 Vahan Kerobyan, Minister of Comedy
Guests:
- Dr. Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022
Color Me Kazakhstan | Expectations From 1st Normalization Meeting on Friday | Ep #112 - Jan 9, 2022 [EP112]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 11, 2022 | Category: Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Georgia, Geopolitics, USA, China, Human Rights, Economy | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 9, 2022
Topics:
- Color Me Kazakhstan
- Turkish-Armenian Normalization Meeting on January 14
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
- Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
Episode 112 | Recorded: Sunday, January 9, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220109.html