Trump Threatens Afghanistan Over Bagram Air Base Control

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Afghanistan on Saturday, threatening consequences if the country does not return control of Bagram Air Base to the United States.

“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 on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The remarks come amid Trump’s renewed push for the U.S. to reestablish a military foothold at the strategic airfield, which was once the largest American military base in Afghanistan. Bagram played a key role during the U.S. military campaign following the September 11 attacks but was abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal of American forces under President Joe Biden. The Taliban swiftly took control of the base shortly afterward.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump confirmed that discussions were underway with Afghan authorities about potentially regaining access to the site. “We’re talking to them,” he said. “That base should never have been given up.”

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However, Afghan officials have publicly rejected the idea of a renewed U.S. military presence in the country.

“Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another … without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan,” said Zakir Jalal, an official with Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

The Taliban government, which remains unrecognized by most of the international community, has repeatedly stated its opposition to foreign military bases on Afghan soil.

Trump, who is campaigning for a return to the White House in 2024, has frequently criticized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it one of the greatest foreign policy blunders in American history. His latest comments mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric and could reignite tensions between Washington and Kabul as both sides navigate a fragile and complex relationship.

There has been no official response from the Biden administration regarding Trump’s statement.