Trump Issues Stern Warning to Taliban: Return Bagram Air Base or Face Consequences
In a pointed escalation of tensions, US President Donald Trump has delivered a stark ultimatum to Afghanistan, warning of severe repercussions if the Taliban-led government refuses to relinquish control of the strategically vital Bagram Air Base to American authorities.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.” The message underscores the former president’s determination to reclaim a facility that served as the nerve center for US military operations during the two-decade conflict sparked by the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Trump’s remarks came amid ongoing diplomatic overtures. On Friday, he informed reporters that his administration is actively negotiating with Afghan counterparts to secure the base’s return. The push revives a contentious chapter of US foreign policy: the chaotic 2021 withdrawal under President Joe Biden, which saw American troops vacate Bagram abruptly, paving the way for Taliban forces to seize it shortly thereafter. Trump lambasted the pullout as a “total disaster,” attributing it to mismanagement that eroded America’s leverage in the region.
The base’s allure extends beyond its historical role in Afghanistan. During a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, Trump highlighted its geopolitical value, noting its proximity roughly an hour’s flight to sites where China develops its nuclear arsenal. “We’re trying to get (the base) back, by the way. We’re trying to get it back because (Afghan government officials) need things from us. We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” Trump stated, framing the effort as a counterbalance to Beijing’s expanding influence.
Afghan leaders have swiftly rebuffed the overtures. Zakir Jalal, a foreign ministry official, posted on X the previous day, emphasizing that any bilateral ties must exclude a renewed US military footprint. “Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another … without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” he wrote, signaling Kabul’s firm stance against foreign bases on its soil.
The exchange lays bare the fragile post-withdrawal dynamics, where economic aid and recognition dangle as carrots amid threats of reprisal. As talks unfold, Trump’s rhetoric risks reigniting old wounds from America’s longest war, testing the Taliban’s resolve and the limits of US persuasion in a volatile neighborhood.