Trump Administration Seeks to Reclaim Bagram Air Base from Taliban

President Donald Trump has been urging his national security team to develop a strategy for reclaiming Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan from the Taliban, according to sources familiar with the matter.

During a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump stated, "We gave it to (the Taliban) for nothing. We're trying to get it back, by the way."

Discussions about regaining control of the base reportedly began in March. The administration views Bagram as strategically important for monitoring China, accessing Afghanistan's rare earth minerals, countering ISIS, and potentially reopening a diplomatic facility.

Reestablishing a U.S. military presence at Bagram would require renegotiating the 2020 agreement with the Taliban, which mandated a full withdrawal of U.S. troops. The extent of the Taliban's willingness to negotiate the return of the base remains unclear.

Trump emphasized the base's proximity to China, stating, "We were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because it's exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles."

Bagram Air Base, located approximately 40 miles north of Kabul, served as a central hub for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan for nearly two decades. The U.S. military vacated the base in July 2021, and it was subsequently taken over by the Taliban.