The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Azerbaijan may launch a military invasion of Armenia in the coming weeks, amid rising tensions over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Blinken issued the warning in a phone call with a group of lawmakers last week, according to sources familiar with the conversation.
Blinken also said that the State Department was not planning to renew a waiver that allows the US to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan, a move that could signal a shift in US policy toward the conflict. The waiver, which has been in place since 2002, allows the US to bypass a law that prohibits military aid to countries that are engaged in territorial disputes with other countries.
Blinken’s warning indicates that the US is concerned about the possibility of a new outbreak of violence in the region, which could have serious implications for regional stability and security. Blinken urged both sides to refrain from any provocative actions and to engage in direct talks to resolve their differences peacefully.