Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States is seeking to regain control of the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a facility once considered central to American military operations in the region. Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over U.S. strategy in South Asia and the legacy of the 2021 troop withdrawal that ended America’s two-decade-long military involvement in Afghanistan.
Bagram Air Base, located about 40 miles north of Kabul, was the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan and served as the operational hub for American and NATO forces. It was abandoned in July 2021, weeks before the Taliban seized control of Kabul, leading to widespread criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal. Since then, the base has remained under Taliban control, though it has been reported that Chinese and Pakistani officials have shown interest in the site due to its strategic importance.
Trump, who has consistently criticized the withdrawal, described the loss of Bagram as a “historic mistake,” arguing that the facility not only provided leverage in Afghanistan but also served as a key monitoring point for activities in the wider region, including neighboring China. “We’re trying to get back Bagram Air Base. We should never have given it up,” Trump said during his latest address, without providing details on what steps, if any, were being taken to reclaim the installation.
Defense experts, however, remain skeptical of the feasibility of such a move. Regaining control of Bagram would require either direct negotiations with the Taliban, which Washington does not formally recognize as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, or a military operation that could reignite conflict in the region. Analysts also point out that re-establishing a U.S. presence at Bagram would carry significant geopolitical risks, potentially drawing opposition from China, Russia, and regional powers like Iran and Pakistan.
The Pentagon has not confirmed Trump’s claim, and there has been no official statement from the Biden administration regarding any plan to retake Bagram. Current U.S. policy in Afghanistan has focused largely on counterterrorism cooperation from afar, humanitarian assistance, and monitoring the activities of extremist groups without maintaining a permanent military footprint inside the country.
Trump’s comments are likely to resonate with his political base, which has long favored a tougher stance on national security and has criticized Biden’s foreign policy decisions. As the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle continues, Afghanistan—and particularly the legacy of America’s withdrawal—remains a flashpoint issue in debates over leadership, military strategy, and America’s global role.
For now, the question of whether the U.S. could or should regain control of Bagram Air Base remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the air base continues to symbolize the larger struggles and consequences of America’s longest war.
