Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Urge Stronger U.S.-Armenia Relationship in Letter to Secretary Rubio
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), David Valadao (CA-22), and Brad Sherman (CA-32) letter a letter today to Secretary Marco Rubio requesting policies that continue to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia relationship. The letter specifically urges the State Department to build on the strategic partnership agreement signed between the United States and Armenia in January and fully engage in the South Caucasus peace process to ensure an equitable, durable agreement. The letter also calls for accountability for Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, the release of the region’s political leaders, and the safeguarding of Armenian cultural sites under immediate threat.
“One of our main requests is that the United States continue to build off the strategic partnership agreement signed with Armenia on January 15, 2025. That agreement reflects the efforts made by a broad bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress who have cultivated this important bilateral relationship across several Administrations.”
“The United States has an incredible opportunity to shape the future of the region by advancing Armenia’s energy security and economic resilience aligned with its “Crossroads of Peace” vision for sustainable peace. Investing in this transition will allow Armenia to fulfill its goal of diversifying its energy production and pivoting away from Russian energy and trade dependence. Specifically, we ask the State Department to accelerate negotiations already underway on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, or a 123 Agreement, which will provide Armenia with a strong platform for enhanced energy cooperation with our country.”
“We also request the State Department build on our current defense engagements with Armenia, which include the bilateral peacekeeping exercise Eagle Partner and support from State’s Export Control and Border Security program and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to develop Armenia’s border security capabilities. We ask you to fully consider the Armenian government’s outstanding request for purely defensive equipment and training to protect its territorial integrity, including anti-aircraft and anti-drone equipment.
“We urge the United States to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its war crimes and ethnic-cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) – via enforcement of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, the application of Global Magnitsky sanctions, and the denial of EXIM Bank financing of dual-use sales to Azerbaijan. A durable and dignified peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires strict accountability and must be founded upon the collected and protected return of Armenians to their indigenous Nagorno-Karabakh homeland.”
“To that end, we urge the State Department to remain comprehensively engaged in the peace process and help secure guarantees for the territorial integrity of Armenia, bring an end to the forced blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and facilitate better trade and transportation links in the region. A final agreement must also secure the release of all POWs and hostages, including Nagorno-Karabakh’s political leaders – who are unjustly detained in Azerbaijan – and safeguard ancient Armenian cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh and elsewhere in the region that are under immediate threat.”
A copy of a letter sent by the Caucus Co-Chairs to Secretary of State Marco Rubio is available here.
