Menendez amendments aim to stop US military aid to Azerbaijan; block F-16 sales to Turkey

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced two amendments to the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would block U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and stop the sale of F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey, measures strongly supported by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We want to thank Senator Menendez for his leadership in holding to account two reckless regional powers – Turkey and Azerbaijan –each representing clear and present dangers to Armenia and Artsakh,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Enacted these measures into law will ensure that neither U.S. arms nor American tax dollars are sent to either of these regimes.”

Earlier this week, Chairman Menendez was joined by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) in introducing S.Res.797 which condemns Azerbaijan’s most recent attacks against Armenia, again calls for an end to U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, urges the White House to explore Magnitsky Law sanctions on the Aliyev regime, and calls for increased U.S. aid to Armenia and Artsakh.