Trump: US Aims To Regain Control Of Bagram Air Base Over China Concerns

During a press conference held with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, US President Donald Trump revealed that the United States is currently ‘trying to get back’ Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

He highlighted the base’s proximity to Chinese nuclear facilities as a primary reason for this renewed interest.

“One of the reasons we want the base is because it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” Trump stated, suggesting that the base held not only strategic military value but also critical geopolitical importance in the context of US-China relations.

Criticism of the Biden Administration

Trump used the opportunity to once again criticise the Biden administration’s 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan, labelling it a ‘disaster’. He implied that the handling of the situation had emboldened adversaries like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Putin would have never done what he did, except that he didn’t respect the leadership of the United States,” Trump asserted, linking the perceived failure in Afghanistan to subsequent global conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Located roughly 44 kilometres north of Kabul, Bagram Air Base was the largest US military installation in Afghanistan and served as the central hub during the 20-year occupation.

The US evacuated the base during the final stages of its withdrawal in August 2021, an event marked by chaos and controversy.

This is not the first time Trump has raised concerns about Bagram. Earlier in March, he claimed that the base had fallen into Chinese hands, a claim that was firmly denied by the Taliban.

Taliban Responds

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid responded to Trump’s earlier remarks, stating, “Bagram is controlled by the Islamic Emirate, not China. Chinese troops are not present here, nor do we have any such pact with any country.”

Since the US departure, observers have widely acknowledged that the Taliban controls Bagram, and no credible evidence supports claims of Chinese occupation.

Trump’s renewed interest in Bagram highlights a broader narrative of US strategic repositioning in light of rising tensions with China.

While his remarks remain politically charged, they reflect ongoing concerns within segments of the US political establishment about losing key military footholds in geopolitically sensitive regions.

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