Senate Votes Unanimously to Cease Aid to

Senate Unites to Halt Aid to Azerbaijan

In a rare bipartisan move, the U.S. Senate voted 100–0 to suspend military and financial aid to Azerbaijan for two years. The measure, part of the Armenian Protection Act, responds to Azerbaijan’s alleged aggression toward Armenia and worsening conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“This vote sends a clear message,” said Senator Gary Peters (D–Mich.). “America must uphold its commitments and ensure that our foreign assistance does not enable aggression or abuse.”

Mounting Tensions in the Region

Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has seen renewed military buildup and humanitarian suffering. A blockade by Azerbaijani forces has caused severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. Aid groups say the crisis amounts to collective punishment, with over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing.

The Act halts military aid programs like FMF and IMET and requires quarterly human rights reports from Azerbaijan. Humanitarian aid by NGOs is still allowed.

Aliyev’s Threats Raise Global Alarm

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has hinted at military force if Armenia blocks a proposed land corridor. “We are ready to resolve the issue by force,” he warned. The U.S. sees this as a threat to regional stability.

The Senate’s unanimous vote signals that American aid won’t support “conduct that violate[s] international norms,” as Peters noted.

Democratic Tensions Over Government Funding

Though the Act passed easily, it was attached to a broader Republican spending bill, triggering Democratic infighting. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the move a “false choice” and said it handed Republicans a “blank check.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez added, “Settling for crumbs undermines our credibility.”

These disputes reveal deeper divides within the party over strategy and leadership, just as Democrats prepare for upcoming elections.