House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) led a congressional delegation to Armenia, from where she slammed on Sunday Azerbaijan’s “illegal” attacks on the country.
Pelosi’s visit came after clashes erupted on the Azeri-Armenian border in the heaviest fighting in the region since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. A ceasefire has held since Wednesday, but over 200 troops were killed in the flare-up.
Armenia said the fighting was started by massive Azeri shelling, while Azerbaijan claims it was responding to attacks on the border. Pelosi said it was clear that Azerbaijan was the aggressor, saying the fighting “was initiated by the Azeris and there has to be recognition of that.”
“We strongly condemn those attacks,” Pelosi said. Her comments broke from the line that has been coming out of the Biden administration. Historically, the US has leaned more toward supporting the Azeri side, and Azerbaijan received a significant boost in US military aid in recent years. But the Biden administration has been taking a neutral approach to the conflict, at least publicly.
Pelosi’s comments in Armenia drew a scathing response from Azerbaijan. “The unsubstantiated and unfair accusations leveled by Pelosi against Azerbaijan are unacceptable,” the Azeri Foreign Ministry said. “This is a serious blow to the efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
Armenia is a treaty ally of Russia under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and appealed to Moscow for help after the recent fighting. Russia said it would dispatch a monitoring mission to Armenia, and some Armenian officials were not happy with Moscow’s response, which Pelosi said she found “interesting.”
“It is interesting that they were disappointed they got fact finders and not protection from that relationship and we’ll see what happens next,” Pelosi said.
As speaker of the House, Pelosi is the highest-level US official to visit Armenia since it became an independent state in 1991. The district she represents is home to a large number of Armenian-Americans and the visit came ahead of the midterm elections.
Pelosi was joined by two House members of Armenian descent, Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) was also part of the delegation.
So in this case the USA looks like it is maybe backing the Armenians / Russian aligned of not. Perhaps to some small extent the facts of the matter matter?
No, the old gal is making a play in Armenia trying to pry away Armenia from Russian orbit, but, without any actual help this dream of her will come to nothing.
What facts? US and Israel heavily coutred Azerbaijan for years as it was nursing its grievances over the loss of UN recognized territory. The war, in which Turkey supported Azerbaijan — while Russia-led CSTO declined to defend territory belinging to Azerbaijan which Armenia was occupying.
War ended in settlement and peace deal signed. Armenia was to turn over another piece of Azeri tettitory, but Russia would protect Nagorno-Kharabakh. Additionally, new road is to be built accross Azeri territory connecting NK to Armenia. As well as free travel from Azeri exclave in Turkish border to Azervaeijan accross Armmenia.
Pelosi is just trying to stir up trouble. Having failed in Azerbaijan that signed a manor desl with Russia — US is trying to stick its nose into Caucases using Armenian diaspora.
But it is too late. Armenia has no credibility left in the region. First it tried to get US and France to recignize NK as Armenian territory. Silence — as Azerbaijan was more important. US hoped that Turkey support for Azerbsijan was going to anger Russia. But — what was clear to anyone who paid attention — Russia and Turkey wotned together helping both parties resolve the frozen conflict. And it was solved, It will becwise for Armenia not to demandcRussia defends its claims on lland returned to Azerbaijan. Russia isdefending NK, but the desl will expire in four years — and Azerbaijan does not have to extennd it, Armenia either cares for their people, or cares more about US money, possibly arms, etc. it will be suicidal to do anything stupid and undermine regional integration with neighborhood which is part of the peaace deal,
There is some desparation in Pelosi trip — if all US has is to exploit some grievances by a small country like Armenia — good luck.
Russia does not make decisions in CSTO. They all have to agree. Armenia cannot cry foul everty time it claims it was attacked — when it is caught on the wring side of the border. Azerbaijan has zero reason to attack Armenian territory.
I am now confused. I thought that Armenia was a friend of Putin.
But Nancy does not know that, she just went there for a vacation. /s
Maybe this old lady should just keep her god damned mouth shut.
She knows even less than Biden, too senile to inform themselves first before they open their stupid mouth. The Capitol is turning into an old folks home with dementia.
Many Armenians live in California.
California politicians understand this.
Pelosi probably has no idea Amenia and Russia are allies though
I would love to see the expression on her face when she finds out
They get elected by AMERICAN people, they owe nothing special to Cubans, Armenians or Israelis, they owe to the American people domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, they need to be reminded of that.
Agreed
You know, any credibility Pelosi had is out of the window when she went to Taiwan against all advice.
And why on earth is she in Armenia? One last hurrah on taxpayer dime before Dems lose the House in 2 months?
Whether the dems lose the house or not, that doesn’t stop them from making these constant trips abroad to stoke up more hate. This is a bipartisan practice that goes on regardless of who is in power.
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In Armenia, Nancy Pelosi Slams Azerbaijan’s ‘Illegal’ Attack Pelosi’s comments in support of Armenia break from the Biden administration’s rhetoric on the issue”
America’s new Secretary of State making policy? Laughable.
Perhaps some of the junk in her fake boobs has leaked into her brain……………..