US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Afghanistan, threatening unspecified consequences unless the country returns control of the Bagram Airbase to the United States. The warning came on Saturday, a day after the Taliban-controlled Afghan government rejected Trump’s demand to hand back the strategically located airbase, situated about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Kabul.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
Bagram Airbase was the main hub for US military operations in Afghanistan during the two-decade conflict that followed the September 11 attacks in 2001. The sprawling facility was central to the US “war on terror,” housing thousands of detainees, many of whom were held without charge and reportedly faced abuse and torture. Following the US withdrawal in 2021 and the collapse of the Afghan government, the Taliban regained control of the base. Since then, the former president has expressed regret over the loss of the airbase, citing its strategic importance near China.
Trump’s comments mark the first time he publicly confirmed active efforts to regain control of Bagram. During a visit to the United Kingdom last Thursday, he told reporters: “We’re trying to get it back, by the way, that could be a little breaking news. We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.” While Trump has frequently criticized the handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden, he has also linked his concerns to China’s growing influence in the region.
Afghan officials have made it clear that they oppose a renewed US military presence. Zakir Jalal, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, said on X (formerly Twitter): “Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another … without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan.” Jalal added that Kabul seeks political and economic relations with Washington based on mutual respect and shared interests, emphasizing diplomacy over military involvement.
When asked about deploying troops to retake the base, Trump avoided a direct answer. “We won’t talk about that. We’re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don’t do it – if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m gonna do,” he told reporters at the White House. The former president’s latest statements underscore a continuing tension over Afghanistan’s strategic assets and highlight the broader geopolitical stakes in the region.
