Trump Presses to Recover Bagram Airbase, Warns “Bad Things” Could Happen if Afghanistan Refuses
Former US president Donald Trump has renewed public pressure to regain control of Bagram Airbase, a sprawling facility that served as the main U.S. military hub in Afghanistan for two decades. Speaking during a visit to the United Kingdom, Trump warned on social media that “bad things are going to happen” if Afghanistan does not return the base to the United States.
At a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump hinted that efforts were underway to reclaim Bagram. “We’re trying to get it back,” he said, calling the development “a little breaking news” and telling reporters the base “needs things from us.” When asked whether he would use force, Trump refused to give a direct answer: “We won’t talk about that.”
A Base with a Contested Legacy
Bagram Airbase was the principal launch point for U.S. operations in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Over two decades, it grew into a massive complex that housed troops, aircraft, and intelligence operations. The site is also remembered for darker chapters: thousands of men were held there without formal charges during the “war on terror,” and many detainees later alleged abuse and mistreatment.
The base fell back into Afghan hands in 2021 after the U.S. withdrawal and the rapid collapse of the Afghan government. Since then, the Taliban has maintained control of the facility.
Afghan Officials Reject Renewed U.S. Military Presence
Trump’s comments were met with a firm response from Afghan government spokespeople. Zakir Jalal, a foreign affairs official, wrote on X that Afghanistan is willing to engage with the United States “without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan.” He said Kabul seeks political and economic ties based on “mutual respect and shared interests,” but rejected the idea of restoring a permanent U.S. base on Afghan soil.
The statement underscores a persistent reality: many Afghan leaders and citizens remain wary of renewed foreign military footprints following the long and costly U.S. presence.
Geopolitics and Domestic Politics Collide
Trump has often criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for the manner in which U.S. forces left Afghanistan, and he has framed recovering Bagram as both a strategic and political objective. He has also pointed to the base’s strategic proximity to China as a reason for wanting access.
On the other side, Afghan officials and regional actors have signaled that any attempt to re-establish a U.S. military presence would be diplomatically sensitive and potentially destabilizing. The public statements from Kabul make clear that formal talks would need to prioritize Afghan sovereignty and avoid the perception of reoccupation.
Uncertain Path Forward
The Trump administration’s public push to reclaim Bagram raises questions about what tools Washington might use and how such a campaign would be received domestically and internationally. With Afghan leaders publicly opposing a renewed U.S. military footprint, the diplomatic path appears narrow.
For now, both sides are trading words: Trump promising an assertive approach if Afghanistan refuses, and Afghan officials insisting that any future relationship must exclude a permanent U.S. military presence. Whether this standoff evolves into quiet diplomacy, coercive pressure, or something more serious remains unclear.