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.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Donald Trump.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 5, 2021
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Episode 105 | Recorded: Sunday, December 5, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211205.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 21, 2021
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Guest: Pietro Shakarian
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Episode 103 | Recorded: Monday, November 22, 2021 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211121.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 21, 2021
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Guest: Pietro Shakarian
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Episode 103 | Recorded: Monday, November 22, 2021 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211121.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021
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Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021
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Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
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Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
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Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
Preserving Armenian Heritage
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Read MorePreserving Armenian Heritage
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Read MoreIran: 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
Read MoreIran: 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
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html
Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html
Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021
A Conversation with Narek Margaryan - 05/25/2021
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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.
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Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 63 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
A Conversation with Narek Margaryan - 05/25/2021
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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.
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Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 63 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 24, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210124.html Episode 45 | Recorded on January 24, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 24, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210124.html Episode 45 | Recorded on January 24, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related
Read MoreConversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related
Read MoreSince the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1994 and for over quarter of a century, Armenia has engaged in diplomatic activity with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and the West. The aim of those diplomatic initiatives was to find a solution to the conflict by engaging in direct diplomatic negotiations as well as track two diplomacy.
In September 2020, diplomatic initiatives gave way to a military one resulting in a war that reversed Armeniaâs military successes and led to the signing of a cease-fire agreement which completely undermined Armeniaâs position
Read MoreSince the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1994 and for over quarter of a century, Armenia has engaged in diplomatic activity with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and the West. The aim of those diplomatic initiatives was to find a solution to the conflict by engaging in direct diplomatic negotiations as well as track two diplomacy.
In September 2020, diplomatic initiatives gave way to a military one resulting in a war that reversed Armeniaâs military successes and led to the signing of a cease-fire agreement which completely undermined Armeniaâs position
Read MoreConversation with ARF’s Arthur Khachatryan
Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, the Armenian opposition has nearly universally condemned Nikol Pashinyanâs agreement to the deal. The largest opposition grouping, called Movement of the Salvation of the Homeland (ÕÕ¡ÕµÖÕ¥Õ¶Õ«ÖÕ« ÖÖÕ¯Õ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ·Õ¡ÕªÕ¸ÖÕ´ in Armenian), composed of 17 political parties including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party, are demanding Pashinyanâs immediate resignation and the appointment of their
Read MoreConversation with ARF’s Arthur Khachatryan
Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, the Armenian opposition has nearly universally condemned Nikol Pashinyanâs agreement to the deal. The largest opposition grouping, called Movement of the Salvation of the Homeland (ÕÕ¡ÕµÖÕ¥Õ¶Õ«ÖÕ« ÖÖÕ¯Õ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ·Õ¡ÕªÕ¸ÖÕ´ in Armenian), composed of 17 political parties including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party, are demanding Pashinyanâs immediate resignation and the appointment of their
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020
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Recorded: Nov 7, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020
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Recorded: Nov 7, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020
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Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020
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Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 12, 2020
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Episode 21 Recorded: Oct 12, 2020 Full details: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201012.html Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 12, 2020
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Episode 21 Recorded: Oct 12, 2020 Full details: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201012.html Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020
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Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020
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A Conversation with
Episode 4 | Recorded on July 26, 2020
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A Conversation with
Episode 4 | Recorded on July 26, 2020