Trump administration exploring options to reclaim Bagram Air Base from Taliban

The Trump administration is considering ways to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Located an hour north of Kabul, the base has been under Taliban control since the Afghan government fell and U.S. forces left in 2021.

President Donald Trump addressed the topic this week at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying his team is working to secure the airfield, which was the center of U.S. military operations during the 20-year Afghan war. U.S. forces left in July 2021 after dismantling equipment and facilities

«We’re trying to get it back because (the Taliban) need things from us. We want that base back,» Trump said.

Sources say internal discussions began in March. U.S. officials view the base as crucial for monitoring China, supporting counterterrorism efforts, exploring Afghan mineral resources and potentially reopening a diplomatic office.

Retaking Bagram, however, would require sending U.S. troops back, raising questions about the consistency of the move with the 2020 withdrawal agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban.