In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the Senate voted 100-0 to cease U.S. aid to Azerbaijan for the next two years, expressing concerns over the country’s potential invasion of Armenia.
Senators unanimously approved the Armenian Protection Act, introduced by Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.). The legislation follows the displacement of over 100,000 Armenians due to an Azerbaijani siege of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of using for ethnic cleansing.
Peters emphasized the need for the U.S. to enforce conditions tied to military aid, stressing that failing to act would render agreements meaningless. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had previously threatened to resolve the issue of a disputed border “by force.” This development comes amid rising tensions within the Democratic Party, following disagreements over funding and leadership decisions, particularly concerning Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
