In a significant geopolitical development, the United States has expressed its intention to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump announced this ambition during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Thursday. Trump emphasized the strategic importance of the base, particularly its proximity to China, stating, “We want that base back.”
Bagram air base, originally constructed by the Soviet Union, served as the primary hub for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, attacks. It remained operational until the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which led to the Taliban’s resurgence and control over the country. The base has since been vacated, leaving behind a symbol of America’s two-decade-long military presence in the region.
However, the Afghan government has dismissed the possibility of a U.S. return. Zakir Jalal, an official from Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, stated on social media platform X that Afghanistan and the U.S. should engage without any American military presence. He advocated for bilateral relations grounded in mutual respect and shared interests.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have been engaging with Afghan authorities to address the issue of American citizens detained in Afghanistan. Adam Boehler, the Trump administration’s special hostage envoy, and Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, met with the Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to discuss these matters. Notably, the U.S. does not officially recognize the Taliban government, which assumed power after the 2021 withdrawal.
The push to reclaim Bagram underscores the complex and evolving dynamics between the U.S. and Afghanistan, as both nations navigate their post-withdrawal relationship. While the U.S. views the base as a strategic asset, Afghanistan remains firm in its stance against foreign military presence on its soil.