Trump: US Wants Bagram Airbase Back From Taliban/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. is attempting to regain control of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan from the Taliban. He argued the base is strategically vital because of its proximity to China’s nuclear weapons facilities. The remarks highlight Trump’s continued criticism of President Biden’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Bagram Airbase and U.S. Strategy – Quick Looks
- Trump says U.S. is “trying to get Bagram back” from the Taliban.
- The airbase is one hour from Chinese nuclear facilities, Trump claimed.
- Bagram Airfield fell to the Taliban during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
- Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan exit.
- White House has not commented on Trump’s statement.
- Earlier U.S. envoys met with Taliban leaders to discuss citizens, ties, and investment.
- Taliban seeking normalization with Washington, despite international isolation.
- Bagram once served as the largest U.S. military hub in Afghanistan.
- U.S. withdrawal began under Trump in 2020, later extended by Biden.
- Geopolitical vacuum has enabled China and Russia to expand influence in Afghanistan.
Deep Look
Trump Says U.S. Pushing to Reclaim Afghanistan’s Bagram Airbase From Taliban
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed that the United States is “trying” to regain control of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, the former U.S. military hub now under Taliban control since the August 2021 withdrawal.
Speaking alongside U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump criticized the chaotic exit from Afghanistan overseen by then-President Joe Biden and offered what he called “a little breaking news.”
“We’re trying to get it back,” Trump told reporters. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.”
Though he did not clarify who “they” referred to, Trump suggested that regaining the base was a matter of strategic urgency.
“One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” he added.
The White House has not responded to questions regarding Trump’s claim or whether active negotiations with the Taliban are underway.
The Strategic Weight of Bagram Airfield
Located in Parwan Province, Bagram Airfield was once the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan. It played a central role in the war effort after 2001, housing thousands of troops, intelligence operations, and logistical hubs.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, images of Taliban fighters parading seized American weapons at Bagram symbolized the collapse of U.S. influence in the country. For Trump, the base’s geographic proximity to western China—where U.S. intelligence agencies believe nuclear facilities are located—makes it a critical piece of geopolitical strategy.
“Losing Bagram wasn’t just about Afghanistan,” said a former Pentagon official. “It handed the Taliban, and by extension China and Russia, a foothold in a region vital to U.S. security.”
Contacts Between U.S. Envoys and Taliban
Trump’s remarks come months after White House hostage envoy Adam Boehler and former U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad reportedly met with Taliban officials in Kabul, marking the first direct meeting between a U.S. administration and the Taliban-run government since Kabul’s fall.
According to a Taliban statement, the talks with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi focused on “developing bilateral relations, issues related to citizens, and investment opportunities.”
The Associated Press later reported that Taliban officials expressed interest in normalizing ties with Washington in an attempt to break out of international diplomatic isolation. However, human rights abuses under Taliban rule have remained a sticking point for potential recognition.
Afghanistan After Withdrawal
The U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan officially began in March 2020 under Trump’s first term, following a deal signed in Doha that called for a complete U.S. exit by May 1, 2021. President Biden extended the deadline to August 2021, but the final evacuation was marked by chaos, culminating in the Taliban’s swift takeover of Kabul.
Open-source intelligence leading up to the withdrawal showed the Taliban gaining ground across the country. Despite assurances in the Doha Agreement that the Taliban would pursue peace negotiations, the group launched an aggressive campaign that culminated in their return to power.
Since then, Afghanistan has become a geopolitical vacuum, with China and Russia expanding influence through economic outreach, resource exploration, and limited diplomatic engagement. The Taliban has also sought closer ties with regional neighbors, including Pakistan and Iran.
Biden vs. Trump on Afghanistan
Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden’s handling of the exit, describing the loss of Bagram as a strategic blunder.
“The way it was done was the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” Trump said previously. “We gave them billions in weapons, and we left one of the most important air bases in the world.”
However, critics note that Trump’s own 2020 Doha Agreement laid the groundwork for the U.S. exit and emboldened the Taliban’s eventual takeover.
Unanswered Questions
It remains unclear how the U.S. might attempt to regain Bagram or what leverage Trump was referring to when he said “they need things from us.” Any attempt to re-establish a presence at the base would require unprecedented negotiations with the Taliban—or, alternatively, a show of military force.
Analysts caution that Trump’s statement may reflect early-stage diplomatic overtures rather than an imminent plan.
“This may be more about messaging than actual military action,” one analyst noted. “But it signals that the U.S. is rethinking how it can project power near China without boots on the ground.”
Conclusion
Trump’s announcement underscores the enduring shadow of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which continues to reverberate through American politics and global strategy. As Washington debates how to counter China and Russia’s growing influence, Bagram Airfield has reemerged as a symbol of lost ground—and possibly, unfinished business.
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