WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump warned Saturday that Afghanistan would face “bad things” if it did not return control of the Bagram air base to the United States, raising the possibility of new American military involvement nearly four years after U.S. troops withdrew.
“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
The Bagram facility, once the hub of U.S. military operations during the two-decade war following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, fell under Taliban control after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Afghan officials have since rejected the idea of allowing a revived American presence.
Trump signals possible military move
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump stopped short of confirming whether U.S. troops might return to Afghanistan to reclaim the base.
“We’re talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back, and we want it back soon, right away,” he said. “And if they don’t do it—you’re going to find out what I’m gonna do.”
Pressed on whether that could mean sending in American forces, Trump declined to answer directly, instead warning that the consequences for Afghanistan could be severe.
On Thursday, Trump disclosed that the U.S. had formally sought to regain control of the base. He reiterated Friday that discussions with Afghanistan were ongoing.
Strategic and symbolic weight of Bagram
The sprawling airfield north of Kabul was once America’s largest military installation in Afghanistan, complete with fast-food outlets like Burger King and Pizza Hut serving troops, shops selling electronics and Afghan rugs, and a vast prison complex.
Experts say regaining control of the base would require significant manpower and security measures. U.S. officials estimate that more than 10,000 troops and advanced air defense systems would be needed to reestablish and protect the facility, raising fears of a drawn-out re-engagement that could resemble a re-invasion.
Even with Taliban cooperation, analysts warn the base would remain vulnerable to attacks from Islamic State and al Qaeda militants, as well as potential missile strikes from Iran, which targeted a U.S. air base in Qatar in June after American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Long-standing Trump interest
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring or reclaiming strategic territories and assets abroad, ranging from the Panama Canal to Greenland. Bagram, however, has been a particular focus since the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021, which left the airfield and billions of dollars’ worth of equipment under Taliban control.
While the Taliban government in Kabul has dismissed the idea of renewed U.S. military control, Trump’s remarks suggest the issue is likely to remain a flashpoint in U.S.-Afghan relations.
Reuters
