President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the Taliban on Saturday, demanding the return of Bagram Air Base to U.S. control.
Trump posted on Truth Social, “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
The president has spent days highlighting the strategic importance of reclaiming the base.
Bagram was a central hub for the U.S. military during its 20-year war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The base fell to the Taliban after President Joe Biden ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August 2021.
Millions of dollars in military equipment, vehicles, and weapons were left behind and are now in Taliban hands.
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Trump said Bagram’s location is critical because of its proximity to where China manufactures nuclear weapons, per the Daily Mail.
“We’re trying to get it back,” Trump told the Daily Mail. “It’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”
Experts say retaking Bagram would require a massive military effort. A former U.S. official told Reuters that more than 10,000 troops would be needed to hold the base effectively.
Troops would have to repair the facility, resupply it, and secure a perimeter capable of defending against rocket attacks. The official said no active plans exist to retake Bagram at this time.
Trump has suggested that the U.S. could regain control if the Taliban consented, but it is unclear if negotiations will succeed.
Even if the Taliban allowed U.S. forces back, the base would face threats from ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
The base could also be targeted by Iranian missile strikes. Iran struck a U.S. air base in Qatar last June following attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
A former senior U.S. defense official said the military advantages of Bagram are limited, noting the risks could outweigh the benefits.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden for the chaotic withdrawal, particularly the August 26, 2021 ISIS-K suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 170 Afghan civilians.
Trump described the withdrawal as a “total disaster” during a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He highlighted the tragedy as evidence of the dangers of leaving strategic positions, like Bagram, in Taliban hands.
During his first term, Trump signed a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, stipulating U.S. forces would leave by May 1, 2021. Biden followed the agreement but moved the withdrawal deadline to August 31, 2021, when U.S. troops officially left Afghanistan.
