Trump: "We handed over Bagram for nothing"
Feasibility remains uncertain amid practical constraints
It has been reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing a plan to reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which was abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal.
According to Yonhap News Agency on September 20, citing CNN and other foreign media outlets, the Trump administration has been reviewing options for regaining control of Bagram Air Base over the past several months.
President Trump and senior administration officials are said to believe that Bagram Air Base would be useful for strategic competition with China, securing access to Afghanistan’s mineral resources, and establishing a counterterrorism outpost.
In public remarks, President Trump stated, "We handed over Bagram for nothing," and added, "We want to get that base back." He particularly emphasized the strategic significance regarding China, noting that the base is about an hour (800 km) away from China.
Bagram Air Base had served as a key hub for U.S. forces stationed in Afghanistan since 2001, but after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, it was seized by the Taliban. The sudden withdrawal led to chaos, including a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and over 170 civilians.
President Trump has consistently criticized previous administrations’ decisions regarding the withdrawal, arguing that Bagram should not have been abandoned. His team believes that regaining the base would enable the U.S. to monitor China’s activities, access Afghanistan’s rare earth elements and mining operations, and use it as a forward base for counterterrorism operations targeting extremist groups such as ISIS.
However, the White House and State Department have not issued any immediate statements regarding the specific progress of discussions about reclaiming the base.
Nevertheless, many point out that there are significant obstacles to retaking the base. Local media analysis indicates that a large-scale deployment of troops, essentially amounting to a "re-invasion" of Afghanistan, would be unavoidable. In addition, redeploying U.S. forces could further complicate the local situation and intensify power struggles with surrounding major powers.
Experts assess that the push to reclaim Bagram is an issue where strategic and political intentions collide with practical constraints, and that it represents a complex challenge requiring diplomatic negotiations, military preparations, and consideration of regional security.
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