The Senate passed a resolution on Thursday formally recognizing the Ottoman Empire’s genocide against the Armenian people, a move strongly opposed by the Turkish government.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) oversaw passage of the resolution, which provides “official recognition and remembrance” of the Armenian genocide, by unanimous consent.
The move comes after three GOP senators previously blocked passage of the resolution amid pressure from the White House, which argued that it would undercut negotiations between Washington and Ankara, which vehemently opposes recognizing the killing of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide.
Relations between the U.S. and Turkey have been tested in recent months over Turkey’s purchase of a Russian weapons system and its incursion into Syria.
The resolution passed the House in a 405-11 vote.