The package fails to address the central issues at the heart of a just peace: the safe and dignified right of return for over 150,000 Armenians ethnically cleansed from Artsakh, the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, the protection of Armenian Christian heritage and enforceable guarantees for Armenia’s security and sovereignty. The signing took place without any acknowledgment of Azerbaijan’s genocidal campaign against Artsakh Armenians, its ongoing illegal imprisonment of Artsakh leaders or its continuing military occupation of sovereign Armenian territory.
“The same Donald Trump who failed to stop Azerbaijan’s 2020 attack on Nagorno Karabakh is now rewarding this aggression, compromising Armenia’s sovereignty and consolidating Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing of over 150,000 indigenous Armenian Christians,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “A true and lasting peace requires justice—the right of return for displaced Armenians, the release of hostages, protection for Christian heritage sites and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenia – none of which are addressed in this agreement.”
One of the most troubling provisions is President Trump’s waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, removing the U.S. prohibition on military assistance to Azerbaijan. This decision strips away a key point of U.S. leverage to hold Baku accountable for violations of the agreement, even as Azerbaijani troops remain entrenched in Armenian territory and Armenian prisoners remain unlawfully detained. “Waiving Section 907 rewards aggression and removes a critical deterrent against renewed Azerbaijani escalation,” stated Hamparian. “Washington should be enforcing this law until there are verifiable protections for Armenia and justice for Artsakh’s displaced.”
The agreement also establishes a 99-year lease granting the U.S. exclusive development rights for the so-called Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)—a transit corridor running through Armenia’s Syunik province to connect Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan and Turkey. While described as operating under Armenian law, the arrangement effectively cedes long-term control over strategic territory. “A corridor by any other name still strips Armenia of control over its own land,” said Hamparian. “Armenian sovereignty is not for lease.”
Despite its sweeping political significance, the non-binding agreement includes no enforceable security guarantees for Armenia. There are no robust monitoring mechanisms, binding deterrents or clearly defined consequences for Azerbaijani violations. “Paper promises will not stop tanks,” Hamparian cautioned. “Without enforceable safeguards—real monitoring and real consequences—this deal is a roadmap for future coercion, not lasting peace.”
The deal further pressures Armenia to withdraw its international legal cases against Azerbaijan and to remove European Union border monitoring missions. Both measures would dismantle protections that help deter violations and document abuses. “Stripping away legal and monitoring protections abandons accountability and weakens Armenia’s defenses,” stated Hamparian. “Justice is not a bargaining chip—it’s the foundation of of a true and lasting peace.”
Equally alarming is the total silence on the release of Armenian POWs, civilian hostages and Artsakh’s elected leaders, all still illegally imprisoned and tortured in Baku. Nor is there any provision for the protected, dignified and collective right of return for Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh. “You cannot declare peace while leaving hostages in cells and refugees in limbo,” Hamparian said. “The release of prisoners and the protected return to Artsakh must be the starting point—not an afterthought—of any credible peace.”
Finally, the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group without establishing a credible replacement removes one of the few multilateral forums available to address Armenian rights and regional security. “Dismantling a multilateral track without building a stronger one enables impunity,” Hamparian warned. “We need more independent oversight and accountability, not less.”
Congressional response to the agreement
Immediately after the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement at the White House, leaders of the Congressional Armenian Caucus called for enforceable security guarantees for Armenia, the release of Armenian prisoners of war and the protection of Artsakh’s displaced population.
Armenian Caucus founding co-chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) emphasized the need for solid enforcement mechanisms to prevent future Azerbaijani violations. “Any final agreement must also include solid enforcement mechanisms and security guarantees for Armenia should Azerbaijan break its terms. In this regard, it is a mistake for the U.S. to waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. There is no reason to provide Azerbaijan with military assistance,” stated Pallone. “Additionally, more can and must be done to push Azerbaijani President Aliyev to release the prisoners of war and political prisoners he continues to hold in Baku and remove his troops from Armenian land. The United States has a moral imperative to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable return for displaced Armenians to their indigenous homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Brad Sherman (D-CA) stressed the importance of holding Azerbaijan accountable for its aggression and ensuring tangible protections for Armenia. “Azerbaijan must be held accountable for its aggression. While U.S. engagement and support for Armenia is critical, the U.S. must take a stronger stance to ensure that Armenia receives just and tangible security guarantees. The U.S. should—in no way—be lifting the Section 907 prohibition on U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan,” said Sherman. “Azerbaijani troops continue to unlawfully hold Armenian POWs. Every one of the Armenian POWs must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
ANCA details agreement’s shortcomings and outlines next steps to Congress and the media
The ANCA has shared its full post-signing analysis of the Azerbaijan-Armenia deal with the U.S. Senate and House, detailing the shortcomings of the agreement and outlining next steps to protect Armenia’s security and sovereignty, secure the right of return of Artsakh Armenians and ensure the immediate release of Armenian prisoners.
The ANCA’s views on the agreement and its implications have been featured in POLITICO, New York Times, Washington Post, The Hill, Al Jazeera, CBS News and Breitbart.
ANCA Policy Director Alex Galitsky told POLITICO that “Real peace must be predicated on justice and accountability for Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights violations—these issues shouldn’t be left on the back burner. A deal that rewards Azerbaijan’s aggression, undermines Armenia’s sovereignty and denies justice to Artsakh’s Armenians will only make it harder to resolve these critical human rights issues down the line.”
Why blame White House and not hold the current government of Nikol Pashinyan responsible? Afterall his government has signed the accord!
My father and my mother are rolling over in their graves! Iran is the only country objecting? Who would believe it? We were sold out.
God bless America and Democracy. The billions spent on NGOs to tame third world aboriginals is at least paying off in some countries.
Let’s never forget that Mr. Pashinyan represents the democratic will of the Armenian people. Armenia is now a “Westernized” country with “European” aspirations. Always remember that. Therefore, let’s please show the duly-elected leader of Armenia some respect, as he is the Western-financed and Turkish-led political activist a clear majority of our people, both in the homeland and in the diaspora, wanted to lead Armenia not only in 2018 but also in 2020, 2021 and 2023. In 2024, Bishop Bagratyan finally proved that the Armenian people don’t want change. So be it. Let’s respect the “democratic” wish of the masses.
If you believe in “people power”, “democracy”, “westernization” and “the American way”, stop your constant complaining and start supporting Mr. Pashinyan in his historic mission to turn Armenia into a Turkish/Azeri Vilayet. We are finally breaking free from Russia. After 30 years of trying, American-Armenians finally got their wish. Congratulations. Let’s now all enjoy the consequence.
PS: Although not nearly as much as the AGBU and Armenian Assembly of America, ANCA is also responsible for the current state of affairs in Nikol’s Armenia. What we are seeing is essentially the culmination of 30-plus years of “Armenian-American” advocacy in the belly of the beast. Let no one be surprised at the gained results.
I bet ANCA are rueing their decades of Russophobia.
They seriously thought the Americans would send in the Seventh Cavalry!
More fools them!
If they had had an ounce of common sense, they would have been the greatest Russophiles in Washington.
Oh well.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, in fact, I’ll say it a million times :
You can’t beat Geography!
Unfortunately, the smaller numbers of the U.S. Armenian community compared to the Evangelical Protestant, Jewish, and Cuban communities, in addition to the Machiavellian Realpolitik of U.S. foreign policy, mean that U.S. Armenian organizations and lobbies like ANCA don’t have the power and influence of the Evangelical Protestant, Jewish, and Cuban lobbies to the point of shaping U.S. policy towards Israel (and against its enemies), Cuba, etc… We see this lack of influence in U.S. Congress, where most issues and proposed resolutions (even non-binding ones) concerning Armenia and Armenians, don’t make it past the committee and only result in hearings at most.
With the exception of a few and true Armenophile politicians who have some integrity, and who stick with the Armenian community through thick and thin, most U.S. politicians (this also applies to French politicians for the same reasons) only reach out to the Armenian community during election time, if they form a significant voter base in their constituencies. After elections, the promises they make to the Armenian voters, are either wholly or mostly not kept, and are forgotten until the next elections. (Only the much larger Evangelical Protestant, Jewish, and Cuban voter base, and their powerful lobbies, are always catered for and pampered.) It is the same vicious circle, and Armenian voters are cynically used like pawns by politicians who seek office or who want to stay in office.
The American-Armenian diaspora, as a whole, has had a toxic effect on Armenia for decades.
What’s this?? You realize this is an American newspaper?
ANCA…what positives have they accomplished? Please name ONE. It is time to disband that worthless “organization”
Now, Azeri business people will hire Armenians in Yerevan, and they’ll also check your passport upon Yerevan entry, instead of some fat Russian lady. One man’s poison is another man’s meat, at least for many Armenians who wanted real velvet revolution. We are done.
It is obvious that ANCA and the other Armenian lobbies are unsuccessful with their lobbying campaigns against Azerbaijan and Turkey.
After the main objective of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by every U.S. state and especially by U.S. Congress, was accomplished in 2021, ANCA and the other Armenian lobbies have stalled.
It is important to point out that, until Israel and Turkey fell out over Gaza and Hamas, and became enemies in 2009, the powerful Israel lobby prevented the recognition of the Armenian Genocide at federal level, when it first came to U.S. Congress in 1975. It took 46 years, because of the “veto” of the Israel lobby and presidential vetoes.
If ANCA and the other Armenian lobbies wish to be successful in advancing the interests of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora, they need to change their strategies and actively seek alliances with the most powerful U.S. lobbies.
The two most powerful U.S. lobbies are of course the Evengelical Protestant lobbies and the Israel lobbies, which are in a symbiotic relationship.
The Azerbaijani lobbies are unusally successful in advancing Azerbaijan’s interests in the U.S., because of their alliances with the Israel and also the Evengelical Protestant lobbies.
I know that such an alliance is controversial and not popular with many Armenian Americans and in the Armenian Diaspora, but every avenue to secure and advance Armenia’s interests, should be tried.
If not, ANCA and the other Armenian lobbies will remain ineffective and continue to go around in circles.
US recognition of the Armenian Genocide will never have political teeth. It was just a symbolic gesture to placate politically illiterate Armenians and lure us further Westward. Politically, demographically and financially, Armenians are a nobody, especially in the US. The only thing Armenian “lobbying” in Washington has been able to do is help imperial officials in Washington further entrench themselves in Armenian society, to the detriment of Russia, Iran and Armenia…
Russia’s plan was Armenian Defeat. It thought that after that Armenians will completely bow to Moscow and become like Belarus or Chechnya. Azerbaijanis would thank Moscow for the victory and would also follow it unconditionally. Georgia has a Pro Russian Government however the War in Ukraine completely changed the scenario. Russian Losses are huge and the war continues to last and Russians lose influence everywhere including in the South Caucasus. If an agreement comes out on Friday under Trump Russia will be kicked out completely from the region. U.S will replace it. U.S, Britain and Turkey want that that outcome. Honestly I also want. Let we leave completely the rotten organization called CSTO and have some clean, modern American Bases like Turks, Greeks or Bulgarians have. Some commercial ties to Moscow would be enough. Soviet Vassal Mode needs to end. Doesn’t bring good to anybody and will never bring it either. Russia has a avery dark future.
@sevan balci
Yes indeed Russia wanted Armenia it’s ally to lose so it could control them just as it did in the Soviet era and for Azerbaijan to draw closer to Russia as a reward. This plot seemed successful in 2020 but it’s invasion of Ukraine has ruined this scheme, despite Azerbaijan seemingly drawing closer just before Russia invaded Ukraine and its preoccupations but it seems Azerbaijan only liked Russia as much as it needed them. The hopes Armenians had in Russia were dashed when it failed to uphold it’s obligations it had gained in 2020 so for what seemed an empowerment for Russia has turned into an embarrassment. For Armenia to find that non member and enemy Azerbaijan was getting more support from the Russia led CTSO than itself
was a reality check. Indeed it’s unlikely that Armenia has much reason to remain in the pathetic organisation.
A good analysis of the situation here :
https://youtu.be/HtQ0YyJKoXI?si=-pMZsAPVmLauwe3j