Trump says U.S. aims to retake Bagram Air Base, cites proximity to China’s nuclear facilities
Trump makes the claim during a joint appearance with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Donald Trump has disclosed that the United States is seeking to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan after it was overrun by the Taliban. The disclosure came during a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, when Trump warned that the base is about an hour away from China's nuclear weapons facilities as he discussed the possibility of retaking it. The United States withdrew from Bagram in July 2021 without notice, letting the Taliban seize the facility as they expanded their grip across Afghanistan.
Trump's remarks, made during a public appearance with Starmer, underscore enduring questions about the U.S. military footprint in Afghanistan and the strategic implications of a base under Taliban control. The comments did not outline a concrete plan for retaking Bagram, and there was no independent confirmation of any operation at this time.
Bagram Air Base, located in Afghanistan's Parwan Province near Kabul, was the largest U.S. overseas base and a hub for air operations before the 2021 withdrawal.
The remarks were reported by the Daily Mail in an online article dated September 18, 2025. The article described the remarks as breaking news with updates to follow.
Officials have not publicly confirmed any operation to retake Bagram, and observers caution that any plan would face logistical and political challenges.