Congress Members Respond to U.S. Military Aid to Azerbaijan

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez and House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff condemned President Joe Biden's decision to again circumvent the 907th amendment of the Freedom Support Act, which once more allows military assistance to Azerbaijan from the U.S.

According to Armenpress, Menendez issued a statement expressing concern over Biden's decision. “While Azerbaijan continues to occupy territories following its attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in the deaths of over 6,500 people in 2020 and the displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians, it is nonsensical to say that U.S. support and training have not affected the military balance with Armenia. I will continue to closely monitor any assistance provided to Azerbaijan and expect the State Department to operate with complete transparency and provide Congress with all necessary details for evaluating any assistance given to Baku,” Menendez stated.

Adam Schiff, commenting to the Armenian National Committee of America, promised to work in Congress to “eliminate the president’s authority to circumvent the 907th amendment.”

“Azerbaijan is responsible for unleashing a horrific war and creating a humanitarian disaster in Armenia and Artsakh, killing thousands of Armenians over 44 days from September 2020 and forcing even more Armenians to flee their historic homeland. To this day, Azerbaijan continues to unlawfully detain Armenian soldiers who are subjected to torture and to threaten thousands of innocent civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh who live under the constant risk of new attacks and incursions. Under no circumstances should the U.S. provide military assistance to such a regime; it not only contradicts our core democratic values but could also embolden Aliyev’s regime to continue provocative actions against Armenians. President Biden should not have circumvented the 907th amendment,” Schiff emphasized.

U.S. President Joe Biden has again circumvented the 907th amendment of the Freedom Support Act in 2022, thereby allowing the U.S. to provide direct military assistance to Azerbaijan's corrupt regime. Notably, Biden had previously stated during his campaign for president that the U.S. should adhere to the 907th amendment of the Freedom Support Act by “halting the flow of military equipment to Azerbaijan.” However, as president, he retreated from this statement in 2021, including direct military assistance to Azerbaijan in the budget year.

The 907th amendment of the Freedom Support Act, which was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1992, restricts aid to Azerbaijan, allowing only humanitarian assistance. It stipulates that the U.S. should not provide support to the government of Azerbaijan as long as that country does not take steps to lift the blockades and refrain from using force against Armenia and Artsakh. An amendment made by Congress in 2002 allows for the suspension of the amendment by the president and the provision of military assistance to Azerbaijan.