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 - September 5, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan & Co. Shun Artsakh Independence
- Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation Reconstituted?
- Afghanistan: Taliban 2.0?
- State of World Affairs
- State of Political Analysis
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian TW/@AsbedK
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan & Co. Shun Artsakh Independence
- Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation Reconstituted?
- Afghanistan: Taliban 2.0?
- State of World Affairs
- State of Political Analysis
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian TW/@AsbedK
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
Preserving Armenian Heritage - Maghakyan, Khatchadourian, Maranci | Ep #77 - June 30, 2021 [EP77]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Artsakh, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Genocide, Syria | Series: COG
Preserving Armenian Heritage
Topics:
- What is Armenian Art and Architecture?
- Where does Artsakhâs Heritage fit in the larger Armenian picture?
- What Armenian Heritage fell under Azerbaijani Control in 2020?
- What is Caucasus Heritage Watch and What does it do?
- What can International Organizations do for Artsakh?
- How do International Instruments fail in Preserving Armenian Heritage?
Host:
- Simon Maghakyan is an independent researcher of cultural destruction and lecturer in International Relations at the University of Colorado Denver.
Guests
- Dr. Lori Khatchadourian is Associate Professor of
Preserving Armenian Heritage - Maghakyan, Khatchadourian, Maranci | Ep #77 - June 30, 2021 [EP77]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Artsakh, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Genocide, SyriaPreserving Armenian Heritage
Topics:
- What is Armenian Art and Architecture?
- Where does Artsakhâs Heritage fit in the larger Armenian picture?
- What Armenian Heritage fell under Azerbaijani Control in 2020?
- What is Caucasus Heritage Watch and What does it do?
- What can International Organizations do for Artsakh?
- How do International Instruments fail in Preserving Armenian Heritage?
Host:
- Simon Maghakyan is an independent researcher of cultural destruction and lecturer in International Relations at the University of Colorado Denver.
Guests
- Dr. Lori Khatchadourian is Associate Professor of
Iran: Foreign Relations, Upcoming Elections (Ep. 67) - 06/07/2021 [EP67]
Posted on Monday, Jun 7, 2021 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, Israel, Middle East, Syria, Artsakh, Georgia, Turkey | Series: COG
Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional political instability at
Read MoreIran: Foreign Relations, Upcoming Elections (Ep. 67) - 06/07/2021 [EP67]
Posted on Monday, Jun 7, 2021 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, Israel, Middle East, Syria, Artsakh, Georgia, TurkeyIran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional political instability at
Read MoreKocharyan Closes In on Pashinyan’s Lead | Pashinyan Visits Europe | (Ep #66) - June 6, 2021 [EP66]
Posted on Sunday, Jun 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Artsakh, Syria | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021
Topics:
- Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
- Pashinyan Visits Europe
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html
Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021
Kocharyan Closes In on Pashinyan’s Lead | Pashinyan Visits Europe | (Ep #66) - June 6, 2021 [EP66]
Posted on Sunday, Jun 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Artsakh, SyriaANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021
Topics:
- Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
- Pashinyan Visits Europe
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html
Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021
A Conversation with Narek Margaryan - 05/25/2021
Guest:
Narek Margaryan is an Armenian comedian, screenwriter and TV host. Along with his co-host Sergey Sargsyan, Narek stars in ArmComedy, a satiric news show series broadcast on Armenian television and on Youtube.
Hosts
Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 63 | Recorded: April 25, 2021