Trump Actively Negotiating to Reclaim Bagram Air Base From Taliban

In a stunning revelation that could signal a dramatic U.S. military pivot, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration is actively negotiating to reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan from Taliban control, framing it as a strategic necessity to monitor and counter China's expanding nuclear capabilities. The comments, delivered during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the conclusion of Trump's state visit to the UK, underscore the Republican leader's ongoing fixation on the 2021 withdrawal debacle under President Joe Biden.

"We're trying to get it back because they need things from us," Trump declared, referring to the Taliban, who seized the sprawling facility—once the nerve center of America's longest war—amid the chaotic U.S. exit four years ago. Trump, who in his first term brokered the initial withdrawal deal with the Taliban, lambasted Biden's handling as a "total disaster," claiming it projected weakness that emboldened global adversaries like Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine in 2022. "He would have never done what he did, except that he didn't respect the leadership of the United States," Trump asserted, reiterating that his plan would have preserved Bagram "with strength and dignity."

The base, located just 40 km north of Kabul and boasting one of the world's longest runways—capable of landing massive bombers and cargo planes—holds immense logistical value. Trump emphasized its geopolitical edge: "One of the reasons we want that base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons."

While Trump's "hour away" claim appears hyperbolic—actual distances to China's western nuclear sites in Xinjiang and Gansu provinces span 1,000 to 1,500 miles—the proximity to Beijing's Xinjiang border (under 500 miles) would indeed enable enhanced U.S. surveillance, reconnaissance, and rapid response options in a region where China is rapidly expanding missile silos and nuclear infrastructure.

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Hours later, aboard Air Force One, Trump doubled down without specifics: "It's one of the most powerful bases in the world in terms of runway strength and length. You can land anything on there—even a planet on top of it." The White House and Pentagon offered no immediate details on planning or negotiations, deferring questions to the Oval Office. It's unclear if direct talks with the Taliban—lacking formal diplomatic ties—have advanced, though recent prisoner exchanges hint at thawing channels.

Last week, the Taliban confirmed a detainee swap agreement with U.S. envoys, including photos of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi meeting Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler. In March, an American tourist abducted in Afghanistan was freed after over two years in captivity.

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has grappled with economic collapse, international isolation, internal divisions, and threats from rival militants like ISIS-K, potentially making them amenable to U.S. overtures in exchange for aid or legitimacy.

Trump hinted at leverage: "We're trying to get it back." Critics, including military analysts, question the feasibility and risks of reinserting U.S. forces into a volatile nation, especially amid domestic fatigue from two decades of conflict that cost trillions and thousands of lives. The 2021 evacuation saw a suicide bombing kill 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans, with desperate crowds overwhelming Kabul's airport as the last flights departed.

Trump's proposal revives a contentious debate over America's post-Afghanistan footprint, blending regret over lost assets with hawkish posturing against China—the U.S.'s foremost strategic rival. As Central Command officials in the Middle East remain tight-lipped, the idea injects fresh uncertainty into U.S. foreign policy, potentially reshaping alliances in South and Central Asia while testing the Taliban's willingness to barter sovereignty for survival.

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