Washington/Chequers, September 18 —
President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that the United States is attempting to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, describing the facility as strategically important because of its proximity to parts of China’s military infrastructure. The comment came during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during Mr. Trump’s state visit to the U.K. and caught diplomats and defence analysts by surprise. Politico+1
“We want that base back,” Trump says
Asked about U.S. plans for Afghanistan, Mr. Trump said bluntly that Washington is “trying to get it back,” adding the objective reflected the base’s strategic location and the fact that, in his view, the Taliban “need things from us.” He did not provide a timetable or describe any formal negotiations, and senior U.S. defence officials have not publicly confirmed operational steps to re-establish a presence at Bagram.
A base with recent, fraught history
Bagram, a sprawling airfield originally expanded under Soviet and later U.S. oversight, served as the main hub for American forces in Afghanistan after the 2001 interventions and until the final U.S. withdrawal in 2021. That exit — and the swift Taliban advance that followed — left the base in Afghan hands and has been the subject of political debate in Washington ever since.
Broader backdrop: state visit and security ties
Mr. Trump spoke after he and Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a high-profile tech and investment partnership in Britain during the visit, an event that included commitments by major U.S. firms and was billed by U.K. officials as a record investment package. The remarks about Bagram came amid wider discussions at Chequers on trade, defence and regional security.
Unclear logistics and diplomatic hurdles
Whether Washington can regain operational control of Bagram depends on complex diplomatic and security negotiations. The airfield sits in territory now governed by the Taliban, whose relations with international capitals remain fraught and transactional. Analysts say any plan to reintroduce U.S. forces or personnel would require formal arrangements with Kabul’s de facto authorities and careful coordination with regional partners. Mr. Trump did not outline such a process in the press briefing.
What to watch next
Foreign policy and defence officials in Washington and allied capitals will likely press for details and clarification. Key questions include whether U.S. military or civilian access would be temporary, whether any agreement would be coordinated with NATO partners, and how a return — even if only for logistics or intelligence purposes — would be framed amid concerns about regional stability and legal, political and human-rights considerations.
