JUST NOW: President Trump just endorsed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the June 7, 2026 Armenian elections. This marks the first time a U.S. president has directly backed a candidate in a South Caucasus election. Why it's crucial ? Revenue and Routing Deals: The endorsement follows a high-stakes, one-hour flash visit to Yerevan by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Secretary Rubio finalized three major bilateral agreements. The centerpiece is the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), a 43-kilometer infrastructure corridor traversing southern Armenia. Bypassing Russia and Iran: This mega-project serves as a massive geopolitical pivot. Deliberately routing global trade from Central Asia to Europe while completely bypassing traditional regional hegemonies Russia and Iran. Rare-earth minerals cooperation: Rubio secured a Strategic Partnership Charter and a rare-earth minerals deal that boosts U.S. tech supply chains and counters China’s dominance. The infrastructure corridor, expanded trade routing, and critical minerals agreements form an interconnected framework of economic and geopolitical interests. (minimal AI visuals (e.g., flags); rest fact-based coverage)(Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial)