During his trip to Yerevan, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement signed with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan as “the biggest step so far” toward realizing a communication route between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Rubio said that this agreement paves the way for implementing a plan being pursued by the Donald Trump administration under the name “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP).

Under this plan, a road and rail route will pass through Armenian territory and connect Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which has been separated from the main part of this country’s territory.

The U.S. government has described the initiative as part of its efforts to strengthen stability, economic development, and regional cooperation in the South Caucasus.