Trump pushes for Reclaiming Bagram air Base Amid Concerns Over China‘s Nuclear Expansion
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump has reportedly advocated for the United States to regain control of bagram Air Base in afghanistan, citing its strategic importance for monitoring China’s rapidly expanding nuclear programme, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The push comes as the Biden administration continues to assess the evolving security landscape in the region following the U.S.withdrawal in 2021.
The potential move reflects growing anxieties within some circles about China’s advancements in nuclear capabilities and its increasing regional influence. Bagram’s location provides a vantage point for potential surveillance of activity within China and neighboring Pakistan,where some analysts believe China is developing additional nuclear facilities. Reclaiming the base would represent a notable shift in U.S. strategy, potentially requiring complex negotiations with the Taliban, who currently control the facility.
Bagram Air Base, originally constructed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, served as a critical hub for U.S. military operations throughout the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan. The U.S. military transferred control of the base to the Afghan National Army in July 2021, just over a month before the Taliban seized power and took control of the country, including Bagram.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy who negotiated the Doha agreement, has suggested a potential path forward, stating that joint use of the base for counter-terrorism operations could be possible if other issues between the U.S. and the Taliban are resolved. “In time, I would not rule out enhanced security cooperation, including the use of facilities such as Bagram, for joint counter-terrorism operations. But it will take persistence,” Khalilzad said in a recent post on X. He recently met with senior Taliban officials in Kabul as part of a U.S.delegation focused on prisoner exchanges.
Though, skepticism remains regarding the Taliban’s willingness to cooperate.Bill Roggio, a long-time researcher of Afghanistan and author of the Foundation for defense of Democracies’ “The Long War journal,” stated, “The Taliban cannot be trusted, nor will the Taliban hand over Bagram to the U.S.” He added, “The Taliban fought for 20 years to eject the United States, and it will not permit the U.S.to return.”
The Biden administration has not publicly commented on Trump’s proposal, and the feasibility of regaining control of Bagram remains uncertain. Any attempt to re-establish a U.S. presence at the base would likely face significant political and logistical challenges, requiring a delicate balance between strategic interests and the realities on the ground in Afghanistan.
