Trump seeking to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

Pars Today – In remarks, the U.S. president said that Washington is looking to regain control of the Bagram military base in Afghanistan.

According to Pars Today, Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said on Thursday at a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the end of his visit to London that he intends to reclaim control of Bagram Air Base from the Taliban — a strategic and important asset lost during the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Trump also stated that he is negotiating with the Taliban for U.S. forces to once again occupy the base, which was previously America’s largest military installation in Afghanistan and, due to its proximity to China, was considered an important regional outpost.
The U.S. president’s remarks regarding China will worry Western allies, who have been closely monitoring relations between the two superpowers, as heightened tensions could lead to further economic turmoil and even military confrontation.
Donald Trump said: “Bagram is one of the largest air bases in the world, and we gave it to them for free — we’re working to take it back.”

The U.S. president also added that efforts are underway to retake the base because the Taliban need America’s help and the U.S. wants the base. Trump further stated that, as everyone knows, one reason the U.S. wants the base is its proximity — just one hour away — to where China produces its nuclear weapons.

Trump also criticized former U.S. President Joe Biden for the controversial withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan in 2021, claiming that this exit left U.S. weapons and other military assets, including bases, in the hands of the Taliban.

In February, during his first cabinet meeting after being reelected, Trump said that in the previous Afghanistan withdrawal plan, “we intended to keep Bagram — not for Afghanistan, but for China, because it’s exactly one hour from where Beijing produces its nuclear missiles.”

The U.S. president also noted that Bagram is one of the largest air bases in the world, featuring one of the largest runways made of heavy concrete and steel. The airfield has an 11,800-foot (3,600-meter) runway capable of accommodating bombers and large cargo aircraft. At the time, Trump also claimed that China had occupied the airbase, but the Taliban government in Afghanistan rejected his assertions.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, stated that the airbase is controlled by Afghans, not China.