The implementation of the “Trump Route” (TRIPP) project in Armenia may lead to the emergence of American private military companies and intelligence infrastructure in the country, stated Aleksey Shevtsov, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Interfax reports.

According to him, it is planned to transfer the functions of ensuring security along the entire route to the American-Armenian company participating in the project, while the Armenian side will maintain border and customs control. “In fact, this may lead to American private military companies ‘entering’ Armenia, and American intelligence and, possibly, other infrastructures will be located just a few hundred meters from the Iranian border,” said Shevtsov, reported the press service of the Russian Security Council.

He noted that such a situation could call into question the safety of the route itself and the transportation carried out along it.

According to Shevtsov, disputes related to the implementation of the TRIPP agreement will be resolved in accordance with the US and New York state laws, and the contractor company will be granted exclusive land use rights.

“This implies that the Americans will be able to ‘filter’ cargo passing through the section of the route under their control,” the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council argued. Shevtsov linked his concerns also to the current US policy and its actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Accordingly, taking into account the terms of the agreement and the current US policy, including their recent attempts to ‘close’ the Strait of Hormuz, the reliability of the future transport corridor looks quite doubtful,” said the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council.