US Congress as instrument of Armenian lobby Do dollars decide everything?

Recently, sixty U.S. congressmen addressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for the application of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and demanding an immediate halt to U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. Armenian media have openly gloated over this development, citing the Central Office of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s "Hai Dat" Committee.

Section 907 was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1992 in connection with the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, prohibiting U.S. government assistance to Baku. However, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress passed the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, granting the president the authority to waive Section 907.

In 1994, Azerbaijan signed oil contracts with American companies, and by January 1996, the U.S. Congress had passed the so-called “Wilson Amendment.” Named after Democratic Congressman Charles Wilson, this amendment granted the U.S. president the authority to provide direct assistance to Azerbaijan if he determined that aid provided through non-governmental organizations was insufficient.

On 7 January 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with local television channels, recalled Section 907.

"Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to join the mission in Afghanistan, sending military contingents and increasing them multiple times. Azerbaijan also resolved critical transportation and logistics issues for the United States. Until they needed us, Section 907 was waived, but when we were no longer needed, it was reinstated. What does this mean? It has a name: ingratitude. This is ingratitude, and what trust can we talk about?" President Aliyev stated.

Another anti-Azerbaijani campaign in the U.S. Congress has been launched by congressmen known for their staunch pro-Armenian stance—Mike Lawler, Frank Pallone, Gus Bilirakis, and Gabe Amo. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the group of lawmakers cited fabricated claims of the "ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s 120,000 indigenous Armenian Christian population, continued occupation of sovereign Armenian territory, and illegal detention and abuse of Armenian prisoners."

In their letter, which carried the message of "holding Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes," the congressmen urged Secretary Rubio to refrain from taking actions that would allow future U.S. administrations to bypass Section 907. The group, led by Pallone, has made significant efforts to advance Armenian narratives in the U.S. Congress, particularly after Armenia’s crushing defeat in 2020.

Republican Congressman from New York, Michael Lawler, has repeatedly expressed support for Armenia. In February 2024, he played an active role in introducing the "Armenia Protection Act" alongside the co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Armenian Caucus—Pallone, Bilirakis, and Gabe Amo. The bill called for enforcing the provisions of Section 907. Earlier, in November 2023, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff also advocated for sanctions against Azerbaijan’s leadership and the suspension of U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan under this amendment.

Anti-Azerbaijani propaganda, whether in the U.S. Congress, the French Senate, or European institutions such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and the European Parliament, is not driven by a particular affection for Armenians but rather by the financial influence of the Armenian diaspora. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly spoken out against the West’s ongoing hostile policies toward Azerbaijan.

"I was informed that 60 pro-Armenian congressmen from the U.S. Congress have appealed to the American government to impose new sanctions on Azerbaijan. This morning, I glanced through that appeal; it is a dirty appeal that cannot influence our will. However, what does this show? It shows that the policy of hostility towards us does not stop," the head of state stated in October 2024 during a meeting with residents of Jabrayil.

It is worth noting that at the time, the pro-Armenian Biden administration was in power.

"When I looked at that appeal, I suspected that both its author and addressee were the same. Because its addressee is the U.S. Secretary of State. But I have no doubt that this appeal was also written in the U.S. Department of State. In other words, they are writing letters to themselves to threaten us, to accuse us," the head of state remarked at the time.

The heightened activity of the Armenian lobby in the U.S. Congress surrounding Section 907 may be driven by concerns over its potential repeal under Donald Trump. Trump's return and his foreign policy approach suggest that Section 907 could be reconsidered in light of Washington’s and Baku’s interests. This appears logical, given the geostrategic importance of the South Caucasus for the U.S. and Azerbaijan’s growing role in the region and the world.

Finally, it is essential to emphasize the key point: Azerbaijan is a strong and self-sufficient state that does not require external military assistance and is fully capable of defending its territory, repelling any foreign aggression. This undeniable truth—already proven in practice—should be understood not only by our neighbors but also by the Armenian loyalists in Paris and Washington.