Former President Donald Trump warned on Truth Social on 20/9 that "bad things will happen" if Afghanistan doesn't return Bagram air base to the US, which built it. He didn't specify what actions might be taken.
This statement followed the Taliban administration's rejection of the possibility of allowing the US to regain control of Bagram, while expressing openness to dialogue on bilateral cooperation.
Taliban officials have not yet commented on Trump's warning.
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Former President Donald Trump at the White House on 19/9. Photo: AP |
Former President Donald Trump at the White House on 19/9. Photo: AP
On 18/9, Trump declared that the US is "looking to get Bagram back." While he didn't confirm whether Washington is negotiating with the Taliban on this matter, he asserted that he has leverage because the Afghan administration "needs a lot of things from the US."
CNN, citing informed sources, revealed that Trump and US national security officials have been privately discussing the possibility of reclaiming Bagram for months. The US intends to use Bagram to monitor China due to its proximity to the Chinese border. Trump has also expressed concerns about China's growing influence in Afghanistan.
Washington also aims to establish a counterterrorism center to address the Islamic State (IS), utilize Afghanistan's mineral resources, and potentially reopen a diplomatic presence in the country. These objectives necessitate a renewed US military presence in Afghanistan.
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Location of Bagram air base and China. Graphic: NBC News |
Location of Bagram air base and China. Graphic: NBC News
Bagram air base, located approximately 40 km north of Kabul, was initially built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s and used for decades. The US expanded it during its intervention in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, making it a key base in the region.
At its peak, Bagram housed over 100,000 troops, two long runways, a hospital, and a prison.
Former President Joe Biden ordered the Pentagon to withdraw all forces from Bagram in July 2021 as the Taliban advanced on Kabul.
A 2023 US State Department report concluded that the decision to abandon Bagram exacerbated the chaotic evacuation at Kabul airport in August 2021, making Hamid Karzai International Airport the sole evacuation route from Afghanistan.
Thanh Tam (AFP, Reuters)
