Trump Pushes to Reclaim Bagram Air Base, Framing Move as Counter to China President Donald Trump has declared that the U.S. is working to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a site once central to American military power in the region and now under Taliban control. Speaking in London alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 18, Trump described Bagram as a "strategic necessity", arguing that its location gives the U.S. critical leverage in countering China. Bagram, once the largest U.S. installation in Afghanistan, was abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal and later occupied by Taliban forces. Trump has long criticized the manner of that exit, saying the U.S. "gave up one of the most powerful air bases in the world without conditions." He now insists that the facility is vital because it sits "about an hour from where China makes its nuclear weapons," a claim experts note is exaggerated but which highlights how Trump is linking the move to his broader confrontational stance toward Beijing. When pressed on how Washington might regain the base, Trump suggested that the Taliban "need things from us" and that negotiations could be possible. So far, however, neither the White House nor the Pentagon has outlined any formal plan for reestablishing a presence there, and officials have declined to comment on potential talks. The idea has ignited debate at home and abroad. Supporters argue that reclaiming Bagram would restore a valuable foothold for counterterrorism operations and deter China's regional ambitions. Critics counter that the logistics, costs, and political risks of reoccupying Afghanistan would be enormous, and that engaging with the Taliban raises serious diplomatic and human rights concerns. For now, Trump’s remarks signal intent rather than concrete policy. But they mark the most direct indication yet that his administration is weighing a dramatic reversal of Americas 2021 withdrawal. #DonaldTrump #China #Bagram
