January 20, 2025, marks a turning point in U.S. foreign policy. The Trump Administration’s return to office has ushered in a doctrine rooted in realism, peace through strength, and economic pragmatism, departing sharply from the ideological interventionism that defined past decades. This recalibration has already begun to reshape the global order, and much of the world is taking notice.
Nowhere is this shift more evident than in the South Caucasus. Few believed that Western mediation could ever achieve lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a region long viewed as Moscow’s backyard. Yet on August 8, 2025, that unlikely breakthrough happened. The peace deal between these two historic rivals has not only ended years of conflict but also set the stage for unprecedented regional development.
As part of the agreement, the United States secured exclusive development rights to the Zangezur Corridor, a narrow stretch of land in Armenia’s Syunik Province that connects the Caspian Sea to Turkey and ultimately to Europe. The project, dubbed the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP), promises to become a strategic energy and trade lifeline linking Central Asia to Europe while bypassing both Iran and Russia. If executed properly, TRIPP could rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative and establish Washington as the architect of a new Eurasian connectivity network driven by peace, not dependency.
To make this vision a success, America needs trusted allies who understand the region, share its pragmatic worldview, and command respect within the Turkic world. Hungary fits that description perfectly.
Over the last decade, Hungary has pursued a foreign policy based on connectivity, balance, and strategic engagement. While firmly anchored in NATO and the European Union, Budapest has also deepened its partnerships across the Gulf and Central Asia through investment, energy cooperation, and cultural diplomacy. Its observer status in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) gives it credibility and influence that few other Western nations can match.
Hungary’s ‘Keystone State’ policy, a framework focused on bridging East and West, has already paid dividends in trade and diplomacy. Unlike Western Europe’s tendency toward moralizing diplomacy, Hungary’s approach is grounded in realism and mutual respect. That makes it a natural partner for the Trump Administration’s pragmatic vision. Washington gains a European ally with deep regional relationships, while Budapest gains renewed relevance in shaping energy security and transatlantic cooperation.
Energy is where this partnership could deliver the most tangible benefits. Russia’s war in Ukraine and Europe’s sanctions have left the continent scrambling for reliable, affordable energy. For landlocked Central European nations, diversification away from Russian pipelines has become a matter of survival.
Thanks to the new peace in the Caucasus, an alternative route is finally within reach. Natural gas from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, combined with oil from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, can now flow westward through the Zangezur Corridor, across Turkey, and into Europe. This corridor bypasses both Moscow and Tehran, breaking long-standing monopolies and opening a new chapter in European energy independence.
For the United States, supporting TRIPP is more than an economic opportunity. It is a strategic investment in stability. With Hungary’s diplomatic assistance and logistical know-how, Washington can help facilitate infrastructure projects that bring Turkic energy to Europe. This would strengthen the transatlantic alliance, weaken the grip of authoritarian energy exporters, and bolster the U.S. role as a guarantor of economic freedom and peace.
The advantages are clear. The United States stands to enhance its global standing, expand trade, and counterbalance the influence of Russia and China across Eurasia. Hungary, in turn, could become the linchpin of Central Europe’s new energy architecture, driving economic growth and boosting its political capital within both Europe and the Turkic world.
This is not a return to Cold War alliances or ideological crusades. It is a results-driven model of partnership based on shared interests, respect for sovereignty, and the pursuit of stability through strength. For Hungary, it offers a chance to showcase the success of a conservative, reality-based foreign policy that delivers tangible results where Brussels’ bureaucracy has failed. For the Trump Administration, it provides a European partner aligned in both vision and values.
With the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity now underway, Washington and Budapest have a rare opportunity to redefine transatlantic cooperation for the 21st century. If guided by realism, trust, and the will to act, this alliance could achieve what generations of policymakers only talked about: a Europe that is strong, secure, and truly connected to the heart of Asia, not through ideology, but through peace and prosperity.
