NextFin news, WASHINGTON — On Thursday, September 18, 2025, former President Donald Trump revealed that the United States is attempting to re-establish a military presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban control since the US withdrawal in 2021.
Speaking at a press conference alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump described the effort as "breaking news" and emphasized the base's strategic importance due to its location approximately one hour from China's nuclear weapons manufacturing sites.
"We're trying to get it back," Trump said, linking the initiative to broader US efforts to counter China, the United States' primary economic and military rival. He suggested that the Taliban might be open to negotiations, stating, "We're trying to get it back because they need things from us." However, he did not specify what leverage or incentives are involved.
Bagram Air Base, located in Parwan Province, was the largest US military installation in Afghanistan during America's longest war. It served as a central hub for troops, intelligence, and logistics until the chaotic US withdrawal in August 2021, which resulted in the base falling to the Taliban.
The withdrawal, initiated under Trump's administration with a 2020 agreement and completed under President Joe Biden, was widely criticized for its execution. Trump has repeatedly condemned Biden's handling of the exit, calling it a "total disaster" and lamenting the loss of Bagram as a strategic blunder that handed a foothold to the Taliban and their regional allies, including China and Russia.
Recent reports indicate that US envoys, including President Trump's special envoy for detainee affairs, Adam Boehler, have engaged in talks with Taliban officials in Kabul. These discussions have focused on bilateral relations, citizen issues, and potential investment opportunities, signaling tentative steps toward normalization despite the Taliban's international isolation.
The White House has not issued an official response to Trump's announcement or confirmed any formal plans or negotiations to regain control of Bagram Air Base. Pentagon and US Central Command officials referred inquiries to the White House.
Afghanistan remains a geopolitical vacuum since the US withdrawal, with China and Russia expanding their influence through economic and diplomatic channels. The potential re-establishment of a US military presence at Bagram would mark a significant shift in US strategy in the region.
Trump's remarks underscore ongoing debates within US political and military circles about how best to project power and counter rival nations in Asia, particularly China, without large-scale troop deployments.
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