Armenia at a Crossroads

This article was originally published in the Washington Stand. 

When I landed in Yerevan in the early hours of July 28, I could not have imagined how significant the days ahead would be for me personally and the nation of Armenia. 

That same week, as I returned home, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) agreement ending 35 years of intermittent war and unlocking new possibilities for peace, stability, and renewal in the South Caucasus. 

Walking the Ancient Faith 

I traveled to Khor Virap, where Saint Gregory the Enlightener was imprisoned for 13 years before leading Armenia to become the first Christian nation in 301 AD. Standing there, with Mount Ararat rising beyond the border, I felt the weight of a faith that has endured invasions, empires, and genocide. Later at Geghard Monastery, carved into the rock and echoing with ancient hymns, I was reminded that Armenia’s spiritual foundations are literally etched into its landscape. 

These holy places spoke not only of history, but of a people whose survival has always been tied to their faith. That truth would echo in the stories we heard in the days to come. 

Hearing the Voices of Today’s Armenia 

In meetings with government ministers, security officials, and former leaders from Artsakh, the conversation was never far from the cost of war. I listened as survivors described the 10-month blockade of Artsakh—a deliberate campaign that cut off food, medicine, and fuel, leading to a mass exodus. More than 120,000 Armenians fled their ancestral homeland, in what can only be called ethnic cleansing. 

Twenty-three hostages are known to be in Azerbaijani custody, and many more “missing” who were in fact also taken. Churches were desecrated, khachkars (cross-stones) destroyed, and Christian heritage sites erased in an attempt to wipe out the Armenian presence forever. 

As a humanitarian and a defender of religious freedom, these testimonies are seared into my memory. The pain etched in the faces of those who told them. 

From Isolation to Opportunity 

Just days later, the TRIPP agreement was signed in Washington, D.C.—a strategic realignment with the potential to reshape Armenia’s future. 

• Geopolitically, Armenia is moving away from reliance on Russia and toward integration with Western alliances.
• Economically, the TRIPP corridor offers a 99-year, internationally administered trade route linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with exclusive infrastructure development rights for global partners.
• Digitally, new fiber-optic lines could upgrade Armenia’s data centers from, positioning it as a regional digital hub.
• Energetically, international cooperation could finally replace Armenia’s aging nuclear reactor and diversify its energy sources.
• Regionally, the opening of borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan would break decades of economic isolation. 

The shift is dramatic: from a landlocked nation dependent on one patron for security, to a bridge nation connected to multiple global markets, with shared economic stakes in peace. 

A Sacred Responsibility 

Etchmiadzin, the spiritual heart of Armenian Christianity, was a reminder that this is more than geopolitics; it is about calling. Armenia is the cradle of Christian civilization, but today it stands at a threshold. 

Will it step into this new season of openness and opportunity while holding fast to its faith and identity? And will the world stand with Armenia as a partner in trade and as a protector of its right to exist in peace? 

The stories of loss from Artsakh must not be forgotten, even as we celebrate the hope of TRIPP. Rebuilding trust, safeguarding religious freedom, and restoring dignity to those displaced are central to building a future worth having. 

Standing in the Gap 

As I reflect on that week, I see the juxtaposition clearly: walking among the stones of ancient monasteries and sitting across from those who bear the scars of modern war; hearing the echo of centuries-old hymns and the urgency of present-day political realities; watching Armenia’s history and future meet in the signing of a peace that could finally hold. 

The TRIPP agreement is the opening of a new chapter. And for those of us who care about freedom, faith, and justice, now is the time to stand with Armenia: in prayer, in partnership, and in the work of turning opportunity into lasting peace.