Jacob Helberg is the U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs (appointed October 16, 2025). He leads the State Department’s economic portfolio: advocating U.S. foreign‑policy priorities and developing and implementing international policies on economic growth, energy, agriculture, maritime affairs, the environment, and science & technology.
TRIPP (the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) is a U.S.-backed initiative to create unimpeded, multimodal transit connectivity across Armenian territory to link Azerbaijan (including Nakhchivan), the Trans‑Caspian trade route, and Europe—aimed at expanding trade, regional integration, and U.S. commercial interests. The TRIPP Implementation Framework is published by the U.S. State Department; the joint U.S.–Armenia announcement and the full framework text are available on the State Department site and Armenia’s MFA site.
U.S. goals and expected actions include: advancing implementation of the August 8, 2025 peace commitments; promoting the TRIPP corridor (investment, regulatory steps, and a U.S.-backed TRIPP Development Company); supporting Armenian capacity building for border/customs management and digitized procedures; encouraging regional economic normalization and U.S. commercial access (including critical‑minerals supply chains); and bilateral meetings to operationalize the Implementation Framework.
Vice President J.D. Vance is leading the U.S. delegation (including travel to the Milano Cortina Olympics) and will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan to press U.S. policy objectives and the TRIPP agenda; the Under Secretary is accompanying him because economic diplomacy and implementation of TRIPP fall under the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs’ portfolio.
Media requests are submitted through the State Department media portal at https://iipstate.my.site.com/DOSMediaInquiries/s/. Typical required information includes requester name and outlet, contact details, story/topic, preferred interview subject or press asset, date/time needs, and accreditation/credentials — fields shown on the State Department media‑inquiries portal form.
The public can follow Under Secretary Helberg on X at @UnderSecE; the State Department travel note also directs followers there for real‑time updates.