Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at a Signing Ceremony for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) Framework[...]

MODERATOR: (In Armenian.)

Distinguished guests, we will now proceed with the signing ceremony of bilateral documents between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia. Signatories are the United States Secretary of State, His Excellency Marco Rubio, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Ararat Mirzoyan.

(In Armenian.)

The Framework Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity is being initialed.

(In Armenian.)

The Charter on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia is being signed.

(In Armenian.)

The Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia is being signed.

(The agreement was signed.)

(Applause.)

MODERATOR: (In Armenian.)

We will now proceed with the press statements.

FOREIGN MINISTER MIRZOYAN: (Via interpreter) Dear colleagues, I have the honor of welcoming my esteemed colleague and friend, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his delegation. Honorable Mr. Secretary, I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your exceptionally demanding schedule to visit Armenia and to bring these crucial agreements to fruition. Your deeply significant visit underscores the unwavering commitment of Yerevan and Washington to continuously strengthen our bilateral ties.

Taking this opportunity, I wish to reaffirm that the comprehensive strategic relations between our two nations are stronger than ever. It is no exaggeration to say that we have entered a historically unprecedented phase, driven by the dynamic and regular advancements on our bilateral agenda.

Dear colleagues, the most important, the milestone event, of course, was the Washington Peace Summit hosted by President Trump on August 8, 2025, which was marked a turning point in establishing peace and advancing Armenia-U.S. bilateral relationship, to ensure peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and also to have crucially important agreements regarding the unblocking of transports infrastructure. And just simply after a few months, the beginning of January this year, me and my honorable colleague, Secretary of State Mr. Rubio, we signed the implementation framework of TRIPP, a new document, and again after simply a few months today in May in Yerevan, we were able to initial an interstate agreement regarding TRIPP.

Of course, this does not cover the full scope, the full journey that we have come across during these few months, less than a few months. We have signed and we have embarked on a number of initiatives regarding AI, semiconductors, nuclear energy. A few minutes ago you also saw how we signed the new document about minerals and critical minerals and rare earths. And of course the most important, I would say, it's an umbrella agreement which we have.

Together with the Secretary of State, a few minutes ago, we also increased our strategic partnership to a new level - considering it as a comprehensive cooperation. If you could kindly study the two documents together, compare them, you will see what new opportunities there are, especially when speaking about AI and other very important spheres. You will see how the agenda is enriched in the document.

Once again, I would like to reiterate and express our gratitude to President Trump and the whole administration, Secretary of State Mr. Rubio and everyone else, your role and commitment for establishing peace in the Southern Caucasus for the Republic of Armenia, working on the security, creating new opportunities not only in the security sphere but also in the economic arena.

Once again, I would like to mention - and I hope you do consider all the agreements that we will be signing today and you will see them being implemented on the ground, that these are truly beneficial for the Republic of Armenia, and these are unprecedented opportunities for our countries.

That's all. Now I'd love to give the floor to you once again. Thank you so much for the visit and for the continuous commitments. Thank you, dear colleague.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. And thank you for hosting me, for hosting us here in Yerevan today. I'm really pleased to be here today to continue to further advance President Trump's and the prime minister's vision for the future. It's a courageous path, a courageous path towards peace in the South Caucasus solidified in Washington on the 8th of August of last year. And so I was honored to join the foreign minister here today to initial this bilateral agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or as it's known, TRIPP.

This agreement marks the biggest step to date on making this historic route a reality, on advancing peace, and on increasing prosperity in Armenia and frankly on the region. But our relationship is not simply limited to TRIPP. We are building upon that in so many different ways, and it's a top priority of this administration. The President personally takes tremendous pride not simply in TRIPP, not simply in that, but in all of the other things we are continuing to build on. It is going to be an important part of his legacy of his second term as president, and we're here today to continue to work on that, which is why today, by renewing the strategic partnership charter, it's an opportunity to outline the future of the U.S.-Armenia bilateral relationship, and creating a new path for partnership and economic opportunity for Armenians and for Americans.

To put it in very simple terms, we are laying groundwork for the sort of economic engagement that allows Armenians to make money and find prosperity and Americans to do the same, and to do it together, which is one of the strongest ways to bind nations with one another, and always doing it in a way that respects your sovereignty as a nation but in ways that are mutually beneficial. That's how a bilateral relationship works the best, is when both countries see an advantage in working on things together. And where relationships become strategic is when you share a common vision for the future and realize that, partnering with one another, you can help each other achieve that better future together.

Finally, we also - on the memorandum of understanding on critical minerals is also going to further enhance mutual prosperity. We see, every single day - all over the world, at every visit I ever have, whether it's in Washington with a visiting delegation or in my travels - critical minerals, which is something no one talked about just 20 years ago are now essential to all the new technologies, all the innovations that are going to require it for the 21st century. Not just access to these minerals, but the ability to process and refine them to be usable goods is critical to the future for prosperity.

And countries that are able to do that are going to be able to find economic independence and are going to be able to find themselves at the center of innovation in the 21st century, and those who lag behind are going to suffer for it. We are going to be able to work together to make sure that both of our countries, both of our economies are going to have reliable access to these critical minerals in a way that is not just financially beneficial to our country, but also fuel that cycle of innovation that will be so critical to the 21st century.

Let me just say that both yourself and the prime minister are your entire team here in Armenia are blazing the trail towards a brighter and more independent future for Armenia. And we're very happy to be here to show my support for their courage, my support for their vision, my support for their dedication, my support for their willingness to see, for the future of their country, what it takes to get there. And we're very happy and proud to be a part of it, and we can't wait to do more together. So thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER MIRZOYAN: (Via interpreter) Dear Secretary of State, thank you once again for the very warm remarks. I am more than sure that, after this, we will ensure all efforts are in place to, step by step, implement all that President Trump and Prime Minister Pashinyan have outlined in this cooperation, which I am more than confident that will be beneficial both for the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America, but also for others who are involved in the region, who are joining in a constructive environment and will be participating in this project, using the opportunities that this project will create. You personally, dear colleague, our guest, we always await here in Yerevan with great love. We are waiting for further new meetings, new cooperation opportunities in the future, and new friendship, may it be in Yerevan, Washington, or any other capital in the world.

Dear colleagues, I hope you're aware that we don't have the opportunity for a Q&A. I kindly thank you for understanding, dear journalists. A bit later I will join you and I will answer your questions. Thank you.

(Applause.)

Tags