How would it be more appropriate to name the road that will go from the southwest of Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic?
The joint statement signed on November 10, 2020, by the President of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President of Russia also envisaged the establishment of a transport connection between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Control over the road passing through Armenia was supposed to be exercised by Russia. This issue did not materialize.
On August 8, 2025, the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia signed a joint declaration in Washington with the U.S. President as a witness. The declaration also envisages establishing a connection between the southwestern part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The project is to be carried out under the patronage of the USA and bears the name of this country's President Donald Trump: Trump's International Peace and Prosperity Route. Its English abbreviation is TRIPP.
The Nakhchivan road is called by several names. Considering that it will pass through the ancient Azerbaijani land – the Zangezur region, which was given to Armenia in 1920 – some prefer the expression Zangezur corridor.
The expressions Zangezur road and Nakhchivan road are also in use. Now, however, the TRIPP route expression is gaining prominence.
Which option seems more appropriate?
The Medianews.az website has contacted responsible persons from several mass media outlets on this topic.
The editor-in-chief of the "Yeni Musavat" newspaper, Nazim Sabiroglu, said that in the first official document related to this road adopted after the Patriotic War – the November 10, 2020 declaration – the road is shown as a transport corridor between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic: "From a historical and political point of view, the expression Zangezur corridor is more accurate. The expression Nakhchivan road is derived from practice and denotes a more concrete content. After the road is restored, we will know in the future how the people will call it."
The editor-in-chief of the "Ses" newspaper, Behruz Guliyev, stated that the discussions around how the road should be named are understandable, but the main essence of the matter is not in that: "The main issue is that Azerbaijan is obtaining for the first time a direct connection between its main territory and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in a real, legal, and internationally guaranteed way. This is a strategic achievement in terms of history, politics, and economy. Whether we call it the Zangezur road, the Nakhchivan road, or the TRIPP route – these are technical and diplomatic terms. The name can change, the format can change, but the essence does not change. The main thing is that the blockade of Nakhchivan is lifted, communications are restored, and a new phase of cooperation in the region begins."
B. Guliyev emphasized that the true value and fundamental importance of the project lie in the results it creates: "What do we need most: the economic breath of Nakhchivan, the expansion of Azerbaijan's transit capabilities, strengthening regional security, and the formation of a new geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus. Therefore, the subject of discussion is not the name of the road but when and through which mechanisms it will become operational.
There have been many names in history, but what has always empowered states is essence and result."
The editor-in-chief of the "Iki Sahil" newspaper, Vuqar Rahimzade, recalled that President Ilham Aliyev, after the victorious 44-day Patriotic War, repeatedly called for the provision of unhindered land passage from Azerbaijan's main part to Nakhchivan: "This demand of the country's President was accepted by Armenia at the meeting held in Washington in August 2025. On that day, the joint declaration signed confirmed the provision of unhindered traffic between the main part of our country and the Nakhchivan region. This creates new transit possibilities and a long-term stability perspective both for the regional states and for the broader geoeconomic space.
President Ilham Aliyev stated in an interview with local TV channels on January 5 this year that the realization of the Zangezur corridor should already be considered a settled matter. There is no doubt among Azerbaijani citizens that this corridor will be opened. Its name may differ, but the essence does not change.
According to the Washington agreement, the corridor is named Trump's International Peace and Prosperity Route, abbreviated as TRIPP. Although the name differs, the essence does not change. This is the Zangezur corridor that ensures the creation of a geographic connection between Azerbaijan's main part and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic."
The editor-in-chief of the Yenisabah.az website, Imdad Alizade, stated that currently, in political lexicon, one can encounter all expressions: Nakhchivan road, Zangezur corridor, "Trump route," and TRIPP: "As for the name given by the people, this road is mostly called the Nakhchivan road because it primarily concerns the unhindered land connection between Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan. Therefore, I think that even after the road is restored, the name Nakhchivan road will prevail among the people. In other words, if someone asks which road you took to go to Nakhchivan, the answer will mainly be that I took the Nakhchivan road. It is difficult to believe that the TRIPP name in political lexicon will become popular among the public.
Actually, this road could also be called the Turkic road. I think it would be the most successful name. The fact that Western Zangezur was given to Armenia in history, and later, because of the conflict with Azerbaijan, this road was closed, resulted in breaking the Turkic road that started from China and Central Asia and stretched through Azerbaijan to Turkey and then to the Balkans. When the road we are talking about is opened, it will mean, on the one hand, the restoration of the road between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan region, and in a broader sense, the restoration of the road among Turkic states and Turkic peoples generally. Therefore, after the road is opened, it is a realistic prospect that Turkic peoples, including Azerbaijani society, will gradually call this road the Turkic road. We can start using the expression Turkic road in the media already. I think this name can gradually gain much more popularity than the other names because, I emphasize once again, the establishment of a dry connection among Turkic peoples from China, Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Turkey to the Balkans can give this road the name it most deserves – Turkic road. I propose that we begin using the Turkic road expression already as the most successful name."
The editor of the Modern.az website, Afghan Gafarli, noted that the opening of the said route is of great importance for Azerbaijan both morally and materially, geopolitically, including in terms of establishing ties with the Turkic world: "Undoubtedly, it is the historic reality created by Azerbaijan after the Patriotic War that brought this route to the agenda. The world's superpowers have already accepted this reality, and Armenia has been forced to come to terms with it. Even Iran, which opposed the opening of the road, is gradually softening. As for the naming of the route, I believe that the most important issue for us is the operation of the road that will connect Azerbaijan's main part with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, regardless of what it is called.
Yes, in international documents, the project is recorded as TRIPP in honor of U.S. President Donald Trump. I think that in international documents and diplomatic language, it is appropriate to name the route thus – TRIPP, Trump's International Peace and Prosperity Route, or "Trump route". However, at least among domestic audiences and our media, we should continue to use the expression Zangezur corridor. This expression relies both on historical-geographical realities and strengthens Azerbaijan's national narrative. At the same time, it presents the project as a regional event. TRIPP is the name accepted on the international level. There is another aspect: names associated with political figures may become outdated over time. From this perspective, the expressions "Trump road," "Trump route," TRIPP may even disappear from political lexicon in the future."
The editor-in-chief of 1News.az website, Kamala Mammadova, said that the restoration of the road between the main part of our country and the Nakhchivan region primarily represents the restoration of Azerbaijan's historical, political, and sovereign rights: "Regardless of which international mechanisms are used to realize this connection, in essence, it is a road that unites Azerbaijani lands. President Ilham Aliyev has also expressed a clear and principled attitude on this issue in various interviews. The head of state emphasized that restoring the land connection with Nakhchivan is a legitimate right of Azerbaijan; this road passes through the historical Zangezur territories. The President has repeatedly stated that whether under the name 'corridor,' 'road,' or other names, the main goal is to ensure unhindered, safe, and sustainable transport communication. Its name may be different, but the essence does not change."
According to K. Mammadova, in this respect, the widespread use of the expressions Zangezur road or Zangezur corridor within Azerbaijani society is not accidental: "This name reflects both historical justice and national memory. Although the project is presented as TRIPP in international documents and diplomatic settings, for Azerbaijani citizens, essentially, this road is the Nakhchivan road passing through Zangezur. In other words, the name may change, the format may change, but there is one unchanged truth: this road is opening for Azerbaijan."
The editor-in-chief of Olke.az website, Samir Mirza, said that all these names – Zangezur road, Nakhchivan road, "Trump route" – are actually acceptable: "If we refer to historical documents, the expression Zangezur corridor is appropriate. For a long time, the Azerbaijani side has used this name in political statements. Based on the latest international agreement, the name TRIPP – Trump's International Peace and Prosperity Route – accepted by officials is also normal.
From whichever angle we look at it, the main thing for us is that this road starts to operate in a way that corresponds to Azerbaijani interests, state interests. If we need to use the expression TRIPP more to realize the Zangezur corridor, then it should be so. Currently, there are no restrictions related to this. The expression Zangezur corridor, which is native to us, is the one we prioritize more. It seems that processes are developing in the direction of Azerbaijan state's interests. We, too, should operate in this direction by taking state interests as a guide."
Naila Gasimova,
Medianews.az
Note: The article was prepared with the financial support of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in accordance with the competition conditions on the topic "The integration of the Republic of Azerbaijan into the world community, development of cooperation with regional countries and other states, and international organizations."
