A Rare Display of Bipartisan Consensus
In an uncommon display of bipartisan unity, the United States Senate last week voted by a unanimous margin of 100–0 to suspend all military and financial assistance to Azerbaijan for a period of two years. This landmark action, enshrined in the newly enacted Armenian Protection Act, was motivated by mounting concerns over Azerbaijan’s intentions toward neighboring Armenia and the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. By conditioning U.S. aid on strict adherence to ethical standards and respect for human rights, the Senate has sent a clear message regarding America’s expectations of its foreign partners.

Setting the Stage: Rising Tensions in the South Caucasus

The South Caucasus has long been a region fraught with ethnic, territorial, and geopolitical tensions. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has been the flashpoint between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both countries staking claims to the predominantly ethnic-Armenian enclave. Over decades, the region has witnessed intermittent clashes and ceasefires, yet the humanitarian toll has grown more severe in recent months.

In late 2024 and early 2025, reports emerged that Azerbaijani forces were amassing troops along the borders of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. International observers warned that the scale and nature of these deployments indicated preparations for a full-scale military operation. Concurrently, a blockade of key supply routes precipitated shortages of food, medicine, and fuel within Nagorno-Karabakh, further imperiling its civilian population.

Against this backdrop of mounting alarm, the Armenian Protection Act was introduced in the Senate. Its sponsors argued that conditioning U.S. support on Azerbaijan’s compliance with basic humanitarian norms was both appropriate and necessary.

The Armenian Protection Act: An Overview

The Armenian Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Gary Peters (D–Mich.), establishes a two-year moratorium on all U.S. military and economic aid to Azerbaijan. The legislation specifies that any further assistance would be contingent upon demonstrable improvements in Azerbaijan’s treatment of ethnic Armenians and a cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Key provisions include