Ben Cardin, a senior United States senator and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has voiced a clear position on security aid to Azerbaijan in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh situation. He suggested that Washington should pause military assistance to Baku until the current operations in Karabakh are halted. He expressed strong criticism of Azerbaijani authorities for their handling of the incidents and called for increased support to Armenians who have been displaced from their homes. In his view, U.S. aid should not resume until there are concrete moves toward stability and nonviolence, while ongoing support should align with supporting democratic reforms in Armenia that have gained emphasis in recent years.
Recent discussions among European and American leaders have underscored the potential for coordinated action in response to the Karabakh crisis. It was reported that European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Granada with an eye toward countermeasures if the situation deteriorates further. The aim appeared to be to send a unified message to Azerbaijan about the expected consequences of continued instability in the region, should hostilities persist or escalate.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in the United States, drawn from both major parties, have introduced legislation that imposes sanctions on Azerbaijan in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh developments. The measure also includes provisions to bolster assistance to Armenia, signaling a bipartisanship approach to the crisis and a broader strategic alignment with Armenian interests.
In parallel discussions within the European Parliament, there has been ongoing debate about possible sanctions against Azerbaijan in response to the Karabakh events. The conversations reflect a shared concern across diverse political blocs about the human and regional impacts of the ongoing conflict, as well as about the broader implications for European security and regional stability.
Analysts note that the Karabakh crisis continues to shape diplomatic channels and policy calculations in Washington, Brussels, and beyond. The evolving positions emphasize a preference for diplomatic pressure, targeted sanctions, and conditional security assistance as tools to influence the behavior of the involved parties while seeking to prevent further escalation and to protect civilians caught in the conflict.