By andrew rose
September 19, 2025
In a surprise statement that has shaken up global politics, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that America is working to take back control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The base, once the heart of US military operations in the country, was left behind when US troops pulled out in 2021. Trump’s words have sparked debates about whether this means US soldiers could return to the war-torn nation after more than four years away.
US President Donald Trump said that the US gave the airbase to Taliban ‘for nothing’ under the presidency of Joe Biden, which he said should not have happened.(REUTERS)
The announcement came during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in England. Trump did not hold back in his criticism of his predecessor, Joe Biden. “We’re trying to get it back, by the way—that could be a little breaking news,” Trump said. “We’re trying to get it back because they [the Taliban] need things from us. We want that base back.” He added a key reason: its location. “One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”
Bagram Air Base sits about 40 miles north of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital. Built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, it became a major US hub after the 2001 invasion following the 9/11 attacks. At its peak, it housed tens of thousands of troops, massive hangars, and a runway long enough for heavy bombers. Trump called it “one of the biggest air bases in the world,” saying, “You can land anything on there. You can land a planet on top of it.”
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But the base’s story took a dark turn in 2021. As US forces withdrew, they handed it over to Afghan troops. Just days later, the Taliban swept in and took control. Now under Taliban rule, the base hosts their military parades and training. Trump slammed the handover as a mistake. “They just went through the Afghanistan total disaster for no reason whatsoever,” he said, pointing fingers at Biden. “We were going to leave Afghanistan, but we were going to leave it with strength and dignity. We were going to keep Bagram Air Base… We gave it to them for nothing.”
This is not the first time Trump has raised the issue. During his first term, he signed a deal with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, in February 2020. That agreement promised a full US pullout by May 1, 2021, in exchange for Taliban promises to fight terrorism and join peace talks. But Trump has long claimed his plan included keeping Bagram for strategic reasons—not just for Afghanistan, but to watch over rivals like China. “We were going to get out, but we were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China,” he said in March of this year.
The Doha deal set the stage for the chaotic 2021 exit. By the time Biden took office in January 2021, only 2,500 US troops remained, down from over 13,000 when the agreement was signed. Biden delayed the deadline to August 31 but stuck to the full withdrawal. The move led to the swift fall of the Afghan government, with Taliban fighters capturing Kabul in mid-August. Thirteen US service members died in a suicide bombing at the airport during the final evacuation. Over 120,000 people, including Americans and Afghan allies, were airlifted out in a frantic operation.
A White House review in 2023 blamed much of the mess on Trump’s deal, saying it “severely constrained” Biden’s choices. The report noted that the agreement excluded the Afghan government and freed 5,000 Taliban prisoners, weakening local forces. But Trump and his supporters argue Biden ignored warnings and rushed the endgame. “The terms for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan were set under Trump’s first term, however, it happened under the leadership of Joe Biden,” as one report put it.
So, what does Trump’s latest push mean today? Sources say his team has been quietly talking to national security experts for months about ways to reclaim the base without a full invasion. CNN reported that Trump has urged officials to explore options, but details are scarce. A US official told Reuters there is “no active planning to militarily take over Bagram.” Still, retaking it could look like a mini-reinvasion. Experts estimate it might need over 10,000 troops, plus air defenses to fend off threats from groups like ISIS or al-Qaeda.
The China angle adds fuel to the fire. Trump claims Bagram is just an hour’s flight from Chinese nuclear sites in Xinjiang province. While the exact distance is debated—it’s more like 1,000 miles—the base could give the US a closer eye on Beijing’s military moves in Central Asia. China has grown its influence in Afghanistan since 2021, signing mining deals and offering aid to the Taliban. Trump sees this as a direct challenge. “China is occupying the airfield,” he claimed earlier this year, though no proof backs that up.
Reactions have poured in from all sides. On X (formerly Twitter), users are buzzing. One Afghan activist posted: “Since Donald Trump is thinking of taking control of Bagram Airfield, why did he flee from Afghanistan? Donald Trump should know that Bagram is our property, and we will not give our property or sovereignty to anyone.” Another user speculated: “Trump is simply pulling the wool over your eyes… Bagram Air Base is much closer to Iran than the Chinese nuclear site.” Conservative voices cheer the move. Rebeccah Heinrichs of the Hudson Institute tweeted: “Of course President Trump is right about Bagram! It was absurd to turn that over to the Taliban—especially within the context of a Cold War with the PRC.”
The Taliban has not commented publicly yet, but their history suggests resistance. They celebrated the 2021 withdrawal with parades at Bagram, showing off captured US weapons like Black Hawk helicopters. Handing it back would mean losing a prized asset and face. Negotiations might hinge on what the US offers—perhaps eased sanctions or aid. Trump hinted at leverage: “They need things from us.” The US froze billions in Afghan assets after the takeover and has kept the Taliban isolated internationally.
For everyday Americans, this raises tough questions. The 20-year war cost over $2 trillion and 2,400 US lives. Many veterans and families still feel the pain of the 2021 chaos. “We left with our tails between our legs,” one ex-soldier told Fox News. Returning even just for a base could stir old wounds and cost more blood and treasure. Critics worry it pulls focus from hotspots like Ukraine or Taiwan. Supporters say it’s smart power play against China, America’s top rival.
Broader impacts ripple out. Pakistan, next door, watches closely. Recent defense pacts with Saudi Arabia show shifting alliances in the region. India frets over Taliban strength, and Iran suspects US plots nearby. Europe, fresh off Trump’s UK visit, might get dragged in if NATO ties tighten. As one analyst noted, “This could cascade into a new international system where regional powers call the shots.”
Trump doubled down on Air Force One after the presser. “It’s one of the most powerful bases in the world in terms of runway strength and length,” he said. But clarity remains foggy. Is this real diplomacy, tough talk for votes, or a step toward boots on the ground? The White House has not outlined next steps, and Pentagon spokespeople stayed mum.
As the world digests this “breaking news,” one thing is clear: Afghanistan is back in the headlines. Four years after the last US plane left Kabul, the ghosts of that forever war linger. Trump’s bid for Bagram could rewrite the ending—or start a risky new chapter. For now, all eyes are on Washington and Kabul. Will America reclaim its old stronghold, or is this just another twist in the long tale of Central Asia’s great game?
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