Trump Issues Stark Threats to Afghanistan from Bagram Airbase: Tensions Escalate

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sent a forceful message via his Truth Social platform, warning that if Afghanistan doesn’t return Bagram Airbase to the United States, “bad things are going to happen.” The 79-year-old leader’s cryptic threat follows his recent suggestion during a UK visit that the U.S. could retake control of the strategically important base.

Bagram, Afghanistan’s largest airbase, was central to America’s war effort against the Taliban after the 2001 attacks. The sprawling facility has also been the focus of repeated allegations by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch regarding detainee abuses under the U.S.-led “War on Terror.”

Trump has long criticized the loss of Bagram, emphasizing its proximity to China as a strategic concern. At a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he hinted that efforts are underway to regain the base, describing it as “a little breaking news.”

The chaotic U.S. and NATO withdrawal in July 2021, part of a peace agreement, saw the Taliban rapidly reclaim much of Afghanistan, ultimately taking full control. Trump has repeatedly blamed President Biden for the loss of Bagram, linking it to his broader criticisms of the Afghan withdrawal and growing Chinese influence in the region.

When pressed by reporters about a potential military operation to retake the base, Trump remained vague: “We won’t talk about that, but we’re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do.”

This stark warning marks a rare public discussion of Bagram’s strategic importance since the U.S. exit and signals Trump’s continued focus on Afghanistan as a key point of geopolitical tension.