The U.S. Congress has obligated Baku to preserve the cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh and the right of ethnic Armenians to return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh. The H.R. 6840 bill, submitted on December 18, 2025, to the 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026), establishes clear requirements toward Baku. Section 2 of the document, titled “Review of Security Assistance to Azerbaijan,” outlines five key points through which the U.S. legislative body conditions relations with Baku, obligating it to recognize the right of ethnic Armenians to return to Nagorno-Karabakh and to guarantee the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6840/text։

It is important to note that the document obligates Baku to:

• Recognize the right of ethnic Armenians to return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and commit to preserving Armenian cultural and religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Fulfill its obligations undertaken by the Joint Declaration.
• Completely withdraw all military forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia.
• Unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war.
• Cease hostile actions against Armenia.

It is important to emphasize that, in order to ensure the implementation of the above-mentioned five points, the U.S. Secretary of Defense is required, 180 days after the adoption of the law and annually thereafter (in coordination with other departments), to certify to the congressional defense committees that the government of Baku has taken substantial steps in this direction. If the Secretary of Defense is unable to certify the information required under the five points, then no later than 14 days after the required certification deadline, the Secretary must conduct an immediate review of U.S. security assistance provided to the Republic of Armenia in order to assess existing gaps in Armenia’s deterrence and self-defense capabilities.

It should also be emphasized that the United States consistently seeks to support the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage, including by referring to the official letter sent on July 23, 2025, by 87 members of the U.S. Congress to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding Baku’s policy of destroying historic churches and monasteries in the region. More details are available at:
https://monumentwatch.org/hy/2025/07/25/ամն-կոնգրեսի-87-անդամներ-պաշտոնական-նամ/։

In addition, it is important to note that this is not the only initiative of the U.S. Congress. Another bill proposes funding the Library of Congress over the next five years to teach the history of the genocide committed against Armenians in American schools and provide teacher training. The purpose of the document is to raise awareness through educational programs about the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915–1923, preventing their denial and the distortion of facts.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2585/text։