A bipartisan letter by 25 members of the US Congressional Armenian Caucus called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to secure the release of Armenian prisoners illegally held in Azerbaijan and strengthen US policy safeguarding Armenia’s sovereignty and security as part of expanded engagement in the South Caucasus, reports the Armenian National Committee of America.

The letter, led by Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders Frank Pallone (D-NJ), David Valadao (R-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), comes in the wake of recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace announcements, which have largely stalled due to subsequent Azerbaijani add-ons and preconditions demanding changes in the Armenian Constitution and the dismantling of the OSCE Minsk Group. The letter urges decisive American leadership in deterring Azerbaijani aggression and addressing obstacles to a just and lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the need for immediate and concrete US engagement to prevent backsliding in the peace process and to push for the release of Armenian captives. “We also strongly agree with Secretary Rubio’s statement that ‘now is the time to commit to peace’ in the South Caucasus and NSA Waltz’s call to ‘finalize this peace deal now, release the prisoners, and work together to make the region more secure and prosperous,’” wrote the Representatives, underscoring the urgency of US-led confidence-building measures.

They further emphasized Armenia’s geopolitical shift and the critical role of the US in ensuring regional stability: “Securing a lasting peace in the South Caucasus is a national security imperative and directly in line with President Trump’s global peace initiatives. Considering Azerbaijan’s ongoing threats toward Armenia… the United States has a responsibility to pursue important confidence and security-building measures.”