A delegation from the US Congress led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is visiting Armenia, which renewed clashes between it and its neighbor Azerbaijan last week, before the two sides agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday.

In a press release about the purpose of the visit, Pelosi said it was "a strong signal of the United States' unwavering commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Armenia, and to the stability and security of the Caucasus region."

In a statement about the visit, which began on Saturday, the House Speaker's office said that Pelosi will deliver a speech today affirming America's strong support for the people, security and democracy of Armenia.

Pelosi arrived in the Armenian capital Yerevan yesterday, the highest visit by a US official since Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought wars for decades for the internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh region as part of Azerbaijan, but until the outbreak of the war in 2020, it was inhabited and controlled by Armenians.

Armenia says that this week, Azerbaijani forces attacked and captured areas inside the country outside Nagorno-Karabakh, and Azerbaijan says they were responding to provocations by Armenia.

Pelosi had sparked widespread controversy when she visited the island of Taiwan last August, which led to an escalation of tension between the United States and China.

At the time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, saying it seriously harms peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.