Secret behind 2025 trump-putin call : Did He Just Crush China’s Belt and Road with the Zangezur Corridor? (feat. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Global Trade, Russia, Israel, turkey, iran and energy)

On August 15, 2025, a quiet yet powerful move took place in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump and Putin weren’t talking about Ukraine—no, they were discussing something that could flip the global balance: the Zangezur Corridor.

This little-known route, cutting through Armenia, connects Azerbaijan to the outside world—and could bypass Russia and Iran. In other words, it’s a game-changer, threatening China’s Belt and Road plans and shaking up the geopolitical status quo.

So, how does a small corridor stir up such big trouble? Buckle up, because this move could rewrite global trade, alliances, and energy routes in ways no one saw coming.

The Historic Struggle: Armenia and Azerbaijan at Odds

1. It all begins with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
2. Azerbaijan and Armenia are like that awkward neighbor situation – you can just tell things are strained from the border.
3. Armenia cuts through Azerbaijan’s territory, and there’s an autonomous region for Armenians (Nagorno-Karabakh) within Azerbaijan’s land.
4. The two countries differ even in religion.
5. Armenians follow Christianity, which is more European, while Azerbaijanis mostly follow Shiite Islam, which is from the Middle East.
6. Armenians, being European Christians, had many traders who capitalized on their location, connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for trade.
7. On the other hand, Azerbaijanis mainly worked in agriculture.

A Legacy of Tragedy and War: The Ottoman Empire’s Role

8. Between 1915-1916, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), which ruled over the area, massacred 1.5 million out of 2.5 million Armenians.
9. The reason for the massacre was that Armenians were suspected of collaborating with Russia, the Ottoman Empire’s enemy.
10. This massacre led Armenians to adopt an anti-Turkish, pro-Russian stance.
11. The Ottoman Empire fought alongside Germany in WWI but lost. As a result, the region’s rulers shifted from the Ottoman Empire to the Soviet Union.

Nagorno-Karabakh: A Tiny Region, Big Consequences

12. Nagorno-Karabakh, a region 10 times the size of New York’s Central Park, is home to 180,000 people.
13. It lies within Azerbaijani territory, but over 80% of its population is Armenian.
14. When the Soviet Union governed, it recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan but granted it autonomy.
15. This was because most of the residents were Armenians who followed Christianity, so they were given certain rights.
16. This autonomy remained during the Soviet era, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, things got complicated.

The Wars: A Battle for Control of Nagorno-Karabakh

17. Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over the control of Nagorno-Karabakh.
18. In the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenia emerged victorious.
19. The victorious Armenians not only gained control over Nagorno-Karabakh but also took 7 other Azerbaijani regions, which made up 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory.
20. Turkey, which supported Azerbaijan, blocked Armenia’s borders, effectively cutting off Armenia’s trade route to Europe.
21. When Turkey closed its borders, it crippled Armenia’s trade with the West.
22. Armenia ended up relying on small-scale trade routes through Iran and Georgia.

The Energy Boom: Azerbaijan’s New Advantage

23. While Armenia’s trade became more difficult, Azerbaijan began discovering oil and natural gas reserves.
24. Azerbaijan, once mainly agricultural, transformed into an oil-producing nation.
25. As a result, the income disparity between Armenia and Azerbaijan grew significantly.
26. Looking at the chart below, you can see how the GDP gap between Azerbaijan (orange) and Armenia (blue) has widened.
27. Despite Armenia spending 21% of its GDP on defense, Azerbaijan’s defense spending, which amounts to 11% of its GDP, is four times higher.

Shifting Alliances: Diplomacy and Politics

28. There were also differences in diplomacy.
29. Azerbaijan maintained close relations with Israel, which is not a Shiite Muslim country.
30. Azerbaijan provided Israel with drone bases, supplied 40% of Israel’s oil, and secured Israeli support and advanced weapons.
31. In 2018, a pro-democracy government came into power in Armenia.
32. Armenia shifted its foreign policy from pro-Russian to pro-Western.
33. Armenia expected the West, especially the U.S., to protect it, but the U.S. and other Western nations had no resources to spare.
34. The only country that had supported Armenia until then—Russia—started distancing itself.

The Second War: Azerbaijan Strikes Back

35. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, purchased over 60% of its weapons from Russia, effectively making Russia neutral in the conflict.
36. Armed with outdated Soviet weapons, Armenia’s military capabilities began to fall further behind Azerbaijan.
37. In 2020, the two countries went to war again.
38. While Armenia won the first war, Azerbaijan won the second one decisively.
39. Azerbaijan regained the 7 regions it lost in the first war and secured one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh.
40. In 2023, Azerbaijan completely dismantled the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous government and occupied the region.
41. Most Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia to escape Azerbaijan’s attacks.
42. Azerbaijan gained control over Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia had no choice but to accept the loss.

The Zangezur Corridor: A New Geopolitical Prize

43. Azerbaijan achieved a perfect victory by securing a corridor that links its separated territories through Armenia.
44. The corridor that connects Azerbaijan’s separated territories through Armenia is called the Zangezur Corridor.
45. A “corridor” is a passage through a specific area, and politically it refers to a “guaranteed, unhindered right of passage.“
46. In the second ceasefire agreement on November 10, 2020, the countries agreed on “guaranteed unhindered passage” under Russia’s supervision.
47. Although there was a three-nation agreement in the ceasefire document, Armenia still controls the Zangezur Corridor.
48. This is because they made a broad agreement, but detailed provisions had not been finalized before declaring the ceasefire.

The Standoff: Who Controls the Zangezur Corridor?

49. As negotiations continued after the ceasefire, disagreements arose between the two countries.
50. Armenia insisted on maintaining border control while only allowing passage, whereas Azerbaijan demanded a perfect corridor without border checks.
51. The reason for such sensitivity is that the Zangezur Corridor holds significant geopolitical importance.
52. It opens a route from the EU to Asia, passing through Turkey, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, and China—without needing to go through Russia or Iran.

China’s Belt and Road vs. Trump’s Power Play

54. China invested huge amounts of money to develop its Belt and Road Initiative.
55. If the Zangezur Corridor is developed, it will create a faster, cheaper logistics route than the Belt and Road.
56. Normally, this would be a win for China, as it would lower logistics costs.
57. The problem, however, is that this route will be under U.S. control.

Trump the Mediator: Making Moves in Central Asia

58. Trump, in mediating between the two countries, secured control of the Zangezur Corridor’s railway routes and surrounding regions, along with exclusive long-term development and access rights.
59. Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan fully trusts each other during negotiations.
60. Armenia, with its weaker military, fears that Azerbaijan might turn the corridor into a territory rather than just a passageway.
61. From Armenia’s perspective, it might actually be better for the U.S. to step in and take long-term lease control.
62. Azerbaijan, more interested in secure passage rights than ownership, has no issues with this arrangement.
63. As a reward for mediating between the two countries, the U.S. will now have exclusive rights to develop and control the Zangezur Corridor.
64. Given the corridor’s optimal location, if the U.S. develops it and leases it long-term (for 100 years), it could expand into a major transcontinental logistics route.

The Deal Is Done: Trump Seals the Agreement

65. Trump signed the agreement with the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
66. Although the exact wording of the treaty hasn’t leaked, articles based on the above details have begun to surface.

Global Reactions: Who Wins and Who Loses?

67. If the Zangezur Corridor falls under U.S. control, three countries will strongly oppose it.
68. Iran, Russia, and China.
69. Iran dislikes the creation of a route connecting the EU and Asia that bypasses its territory, while Russia is upset about U.S. presence in its sphere of influence.
70. China, too, will have to use a U.S.-controlled trade route.

Turkey’s Key Role: The Zangezur Corridor’s Path

71. The country happiest about this deal, other than the U.S., is Turkey.
72. Turkey’s foreign minister cheered, saying, “The Zangezur Corridor will be a crucial link from Europe all the way to deep Asia.”
73. If the Zangezur Corridor connects the EU and Asia, it will inevitably pass through Turkey.

Construction Begins: A New Trade Route Emerges

74. Turkey has actively participated, and now a project to connect the Zangezur Corridor to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is underway.
75. Azerbaijan also visited Turkey, agreeing to complete the Zangezur Corridor construction, including the railway line, by 2027.
76. Turkey’s active participation is good news for the U.S.
77. Since the EU needs to pass through Turkey to connect, the more involved Turkey is, the more valuable the secured corridor becomes.

The Big Vision: Trump’s Master Plan for Trade

78. Turkey and Azerbaijan will bear the costs of installing the railway, while the U.S. will manage the surrounding areas.
79. Trump expressed excitement on July 19, saying, “We’ve worked magic in Armenia and Azerbaijan, almost done. We’ve created a true miracle there, and it’s nearly completed.”
80. With the land route connecting via rail, excluding the Caspian Sea, it is expected that this will be more of a logistics route than an energy route.

Trump’s Winning Strategy: Securing Global Pathways Without Spending a Dime!

Here’s the real kicker—Trump just secured one of the most crucial trade corridors on the planet, and guess what? He didn’t spend a single cent of his own money. That’s right, no investments, no financial risk—just pure geopolitical savvy. While others were pouring billions into infrastructure projects, Trump made a move that could shift global trade routes and challenge China’s dominance, all while keeping his wallet closed.

Think about it: this isn’t just about securing a piece of land; it’s about seizing a strategic position that could control the flow of goods between Asia and Europe. And he did it without breaking the bank. It’s the ultimate power move—capitalizing on others’ interests while making zero financial commitment. Genius, right?

In a world where everyone’s looking to spend their way into influence, Trump’s move shows that sometimes, you don’t need to buy your way into power; you just need the right leverage. Now that’s what I call a masterstroke.