Trump confirms US efforts to reclaim Bagram Air Base from Taliban

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that his administration is actively pursuing the return of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, citing the facility’s strategic location near Chinese nuclear sites as a key factor in the renewed push.

The revelation came during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Speaking candidly, President Trump expressed deep frustration over the loss of Bagram following the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden administration. “We gave it to them for nothing,” Trump stated, referring to the Taliban, who currently maintain control of the base.

Trump hinted at ongoing but undisclosed diplomatic negotiations, remarking, “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back.” He further emphasized Bagram’s geostrategic importance, noting its proximity—approximately an hour’s distance—to a location in China reportedly involved in nuclear weapons production. “A lot of things are happening,” Trump added. “But I am very disappointed in the fact that that one's not settled.”

This marks the first public acknowledgment of Washington’s behind-the-scenes efforts to reassert control over Bagram, the largest US military installation in Afghanistan prior to the withdrawal. The base had served as a key logistical and operational hub throughout the two-decade-long US military engagement in the region.

The Taliban, who regained full control over Afghanistan in August 2021, have remained in possession of Bagram since the US exit. Any potential deal involving the return of the air base would likely require a delicate and complex negotiation process, given the broader international context and the lack of formal diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government by the United States.

By Vafa Guliyeva