WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Afghanistan, demanding the immediate return of the Bagram Air Base and hinting at possible military action if his demand is not met.
In comments made during a press briefing and on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States is currently in discussions with Afghan authorities regarding the air base, which was once the hub of American military operations during the two-decade war in Afghanistan.
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“We’re speaking to Afghanistan right now, and we want Bagram back, immediately,” Trump told reporters. When pressed on whether he would consider deploying ground forces to retake the facility, Trump did not rule out the possibility. “If they don’t give it back, you’ll find out what I’m going to do,” he said.
Later, in a social media post, Trump warned, “If Afghanistan doesn’t return Bagram Airbase to the United States, the country that built it, bad things are going to happen.”
Bagram Air Base was abandoned during the US military withdrawal in 2021, which paved the way for the Taliban to regain control of Afghanistan and seize former US installations. The sprawling base, once home to thousands of troops and equipped with fast-food outlets, shops, and a large detention facility, is now believed to be under Taliban control.
The president’s statements have drawn significant attention from defense analysts, some of whom describe the remarks as “highly significant.” Experts say any attempt to retake or reoccupy Bagram would require a substantial US military presence, potentially involving more than 10,000 troops and advanced defense systems to secure the base.
Analysts also caution that such a move would likely be seen internationally as a renewed invasion, raising concerns about further destabilisation in the region. Afghanistan’s current leadership has already voiced opposition to any renewed US military footprint on its soil.
There is also concern over how extremist groups currently operating in Afghanistan, including factions of Islamic State and al Qaeda, might respond. Some experts question whether these groups, particularly those hiding under Taliban protection, would see Trump’s stance as a trigger for retaliation against US interests.
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Meanwhile, the possibility of Iranian involvement also remains a factor. US intelligence believes Iran could pose a missile threat to any American base re-established in the region, recalling Tehran’s June 2025 attack on a US installation in Qatar following American strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.