HR6840-119

What This Bill Does

The ARMENIA Security Partnership Act links U.S. policy toward Armenia and Azerbaijan to an annual Defense Department certification. Within 180 days and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, coordinating with appropriate national security agencies, must certify to the congressional defense committees whether Azerbaijan has taken meaningful steps to uphold the Joint Declaration, withdraw all military forces from Armenia, release all Armenian prisoners, stop hostilities toward Armenia, recognize a right of return for ethnic Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh, and preserve Armenian cultural and religious sites there. If Defense cannot certify those steps, the Secretary must conduct an immediate review within 14 days of U.S. security assistance for Armenia, assess deterrence and self-defense gaps, coordinate with U.S. European Command, and report threats, historical and current assistance through International Security Cooperation Programs, Foreign Military Financing, and International Military Education and Training, immediate and long-term defense needs, steps already being taken, and recommendations for increasing Armenia security assistance. If certification fails, the President may not use the specified waiver authority under the 2002 foreign operations appropriations law after the 14-day period.

Who Benefits and How

Armenia benefits because a failed Azerbaijan certification triggers a U.S. review of Armenia deterrence needs and recommendations for more security assistance. Armenian prisoners and ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh benefit because their release, return rights, and cultural-site protection become certification criteria. Congressional defense committees benefit from annual certification and detailed reporting on threats, assistance gaps, and security-cooperation options.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Defense Secretary and national security agencies must perform the annual certification, conduct a rapid review if certification fails, coordinate with U.S. European Command, and report to Congress. Azerbaijan faces diplomatic and assistance-related pressure because continued waiver authority depends on meeting the listed conditions. The President loses access to the specified waiver authority after a failed certification and 14-day period.

Key Provisions

• Requires Defense to certify within 180 days and annually whether Azerbaijan has met specified Armenia-related conditions.
• Requires an immediate Armenia security-assistance review within 14 days if Defense cannot certify Azerbaijan compliance.
• Requires reports on threats to Armenia, current U.S. assistance, defense gaps, immediate steps, and further assistance recommendations.
• Restricts the President from using specified waiver authority after a failed certification and 14-day period.