President Donald Trump has publicly called on Afghanistan to hand over control of the Bagram air base to the United States. The base, which has historically been a critical military installation for U.S. operations in the region, was handed over to Afghan authorities in recent years as part of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In a statement, President Trump emphasized the strategic importance of Bagram and warned that there could be “bad things” if Afghanistan does not cooperate. His remarks suggest ongoing concerns about the security and stability of the region following the change in control of military assets.
The Afghan government has not yet responded publicly to the president’s remarks. The transfer of Bagram was a significant event in the broader context of U.S. military drawdowns, and it remains a point of discussion among policymakers regarding the future security arrangements in Afghanistan.
Analysts note that the call for the return of the air base highlights persistent U.S. interests in maintaining influence and operational capacity in the region. It also underscores tensions over the future security commitments and the stability of the Taliban-led government.