President Trump Proposes Reestablishing U.S. Presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

President Donald Trump has proposed reestablishing a U.S. presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, four years after the U.S. withdrawal left the base under Taliban control. Speaking at a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a state visit to the U.K., Trump linked the initiative to countering China, stating, "We're trying to get it back."

The White House has not provided details on any plans regarding Bagram. During his first term, Trump negotiated a withdrawal deal with the Taliban. The subsequent U.S. exit under President Joe Biden led to the collapse of the Afghan government and a deadly bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops and 170 others.

Trump criticized the withdrawal, suggesting it emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine. He emphasized Bagram's strategic importance due to its proximity to China, noting, "It's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons."

Taliban Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalaly dismissed the idea of a U.S. return to Bagram, stating on social media that while Afghanistan and the U.S. can have economic and political relations, "The Afghans have not accepted a military presence in history."

The U.S. and the Taliban have engaged in discussions on other matters, including a recent agreement on a prisoner exchange aimed at normalizing relations.