- September 2, 2025
Washington, D.C. — Global ARM applauds Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) for filing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the Pentagon to recommend ways to strengthen U.S. security assistance to Armenia if Azerbaijan fails to take meaningful steps to curb its aggression.
“We thank Congressman Bilirakis for proactively introducing this important amendment. Azerbaijan’s aggression is well documented and must stop if a just and durable peace is to be achieved,” said Timothy Jemal, President of Global ARM. “We are hopeful this amendment will receive broad, bipartisan support as the NDAA moves forward.”
The amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that Azerbaijan has taken meaningful steps to:
- Uphold commitments under the August 8 Joint Declaration.
- Withdraw all military forces from Armenia’s sovereign territory.
- Unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners.
- Cease hostilities against Armenia.
- Recognize the right of return for ethnic Armenians to their homes and commit
If these conditions are not met, the Department of Defense (DoD) would be required to conduct an immediate review of U.S. security assistance for Armenia, assessing its deterrence and self-defense capabilities. The resulting report to Congress would include:
- An assessment of the scale and nature of threats facing Armenia.
- An evaluation of historical and current trends in U.S. security assistance for Armenia in key accounts.
- Identification of gaps in Armenia’s short- and long-term defense needs, including weapons, services, and training.
- A summary of immediate steps being taken to expand security cooperation with Armenia.
- Recommendations for additional U.S. assistance to strengthen Armenia’s self- defense.
“Azerbaijan’s record speaks for itself with plenty of evidence to show that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly failed to honor commitments to refrain from aggression against Armenians,” Jemal added. “There is nothing that Aliyev fears more than Azerbaijan losing its military advantage in the region. This amendment is critical to holding Azerbaijan accountable while advancing U.S.-Armenia security cooperation. At a minimum, Azerbaijan must withdraw its occupying forces, unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners, begin the process of allowing Armenians to return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh, and guarantee the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage.”
Global ARM continues to work to build bipartisan support for this amendment in advance of the House Rules Committee meeting to make NDAA amendments in order for floor debate. Additionally, as the NDAA is also expected on the Senate floor in early September, Global ARM continues to work with its Senate champions to pursue Senate NDAA language that emphasizes the importance of U.S.-Armenia security cooperation to achieving an equitable and lasting peace in the South Caucasus.
Image source: J. Scott Applewhite/AP