TRIPP launches western ‘soft occupation’ of regional infrastructure, experts say

Vladimir Sazhin, an expert on Iranian affairs, believes that the Trump Route poses a serious threat to Iran.

“If the project is implemented, the positions of Ankara and the United States in the region will be strengthened. Tehran believes this could lead to the deployment of American troops,” the analyst told Izvestia.

Elena Panina, director of the Russian Institute for International Political and Economic Strategies, argues that the project offers significant advantages to the United States.

“This cuts Russia and Iran off from regional influence, prepares the entire South Caucasus (and potentially Central Asia in the future) for possible reorientation toward the West, initiates a ‘soft occupation’ of regional infrastructure, deploys semi-military units to protect American corporate interests, and more,” the political analyst said.

According to Panina, the United States is pursuing multiple objectives:

“They are cutting Russia out of the South Caucasus—eliminating its influence in Armenia, strengthening Azerbaijan, and introducing American infrastructure. They are encircling Iran and creating intermediary infrastructures against China. US actions in the Caucasus objectively push Russia, China, and Iran toward closer cooperation to counter the threat,” the expert concluded.