US President Donald Trump warned Afghanistan on Saturday of severe consequences if it does not return control of Bagram Air Base to the United States.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said , “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”
Trump’s comments followed reports on Friday that talks are underway to re-establish a limited US military presence at the base in Afghanistan. “We’ll see what happens with Bagram. We’re talking to Afghanistan. It should have never been given up,” he told reporters in the Oval Office, says Anadolu Agency.
Before attending the American Cornerstone Institute Founder’s Dinner in Mt. Vernon, Trump was asked by reporters whether the possibility of deploying ground troops to retake the base was being ruled out. He responded, “We won’t talk about that. We are talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back and want it back soon, right away and if they don’t, you are going to find out what I’m going to do.”
The Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed US official, reported that the Trump administration is engaging in preliminary talks with the Taliban. The discussions, led by Adam Boehler, special envoy for hostage response, reportedly involve potential prisoner exchanges, economic arrangements, and security matters.
Trump reiterated, “There was no reason to give it up … We were going to keep Bagram, the air base.”
Bagram is located in north of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital. It was the largest US military installation during the 20-year war in Afghanistan before the full US withdrawal in 2021.
