First, the base is Afghan sovereign territory, even though the invading US forces built it long time ago. Second, isn't it a silly and crazy thing to want it "back"? What would be the point, militarily, politically or even strategically?
Trump's antics generally are easy to decipher. Just think of the jackass as a 9-year old disgruntled kid wanting to settle a score.
The reason why Trump wants Bagram air base "back" - even though it's not his - is to score a point against Joe Biden. If - and US soldiers could get killed if Trump sends them there to take over the base - If he does, Trump can turn around and say, "See? Joe Biden evacuated the base and I, the coward draft dodger, took it back at the cost of American soldiers' blood and lives. He doesn't care if he starts a war and soldiers die.
This is unfortunately the level at which Trump conducts his policies.
Assuming that the Taliban agree to give the base to the Americans, Trump's "deal-making" might involve making concessions to the Taliban, which doesn't look good because he'd be making a deal with terrorists, unlike war criminal Natanyahu who is murdering millions of people because he doesn't want to make a deal with Hamas. If Trump decides to take Bagram over by military intervention, dozens of US soldiers might die.
But again, the jackass doesn't care as long as he can claim some sort of silly "getting back" at Joe Biden. I think Trump will still bash Joe Biden long after Biden is 6 feet under.
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Trump says 'bad things' will happen if Afghanistan does not return Bagram air base
FILE PHOTO: U.S. vacates Bagram air base in Afghanistan - officials
By Katharine Jackson and Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened "bad things" would happen to Afghanistan if it does not give back control of the Bagram air base to the United States, and declined to rule out sending in troops to retake it.
"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 said in a Truth Social post.
Trump said on Thursday that the United States had sought to regain control of the base used by American forces following the attacks of September 11, 2001. He told reporters on Friday that he was speaking with Afghanistan about it.
The withdrawal of American forces in 2021 led to a takeover of U.S. bases, and the toppling of the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, by the Islamist Taliban movement.
Afghan officials have expressed opposition to a revived U.S. presence.
Current and former U.S. officials privately caution that re-occupying Bagram air base in Afghanistan might end up looking like a re-invasion of the country, requiring more than 10,000 troops as well as deployment of advanced air defenses.
Trump, who has previously said he wants the United States to acquire territories and sites ranging from the Panama Canal to Greenland, has appeared focused on Bagram for years.
Asked on Saturday whether he would send in U.S. troops to retake the base, Trump declined to give a direct answer, saying: "We won't talk about that."
"We're talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don't do it - if they don't do it, you're going to find out what I'm gonna do," he told reporters at the White House.
The sprawling airfield was the main base for American forces in Afghanistan during the two decades of war that followed the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington by al Qaeda.
The base once counted fast-food restaurants like Burger King and Pizza Hut catering to U.S. troops as well as shops selling everything from electronics to Afghan rugs. It also hosted a massive prison complex.
Experts say the sprawling air base would be difficult to secure initially and would require massive manpower to operate and protect.
Even if the Taliban accepted the U.S. re-occupation of Bagram following negotiations, it would need to be defended from a host of threats including Islamic State and al Qaeda militants inside Afghanistan.
It could also be vulnerable to an advanced missile threat from Iran, which attacked a major U.S. air base in Qatar in June after the United States struck Iranian nuclear sites.
(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Andrea Ricci)
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And this is the Taliban response:Taliban Dismisses Donald Trump's Call For Bagram Air Base Reclamation: 'We Do Not Fear Any Bully Or Aggressor'
Bibhu Pattnaik
Sun, September 21, 2025
Taliban Dismisses Donald Trump's Call For Bagram Air Base Reclamation: 'We Do Not Fear Any Bully Or Aggressor'
The Taliban’s top military commander has rejected President Donald Trump‘s call for the return of the Bagram air base to US control. The commander warned of a strong reaction to any form of hostility.
The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Fasihuddin Fitrat, dismissed Trump’s demand during a state-run TV event in Kabul on Sunday. Fitrat stressed on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and its capability to govern itself without any foreign intervention.
"Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power," Bloomberg quoted Fitrat saying at the event. "We do not fear any bully or aggressor."
Previously, Trump had warned the Taliban-led nation with “BAD THINGS” through a post on Truth Social if it did not adhere to his demand.
This was subsequent to his remarks during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where he mentioned that the US is trying to regain control over the base.
Trump has consistently criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, holding him responsible for the disorderly US withdrawal from Afghanistan. He contended that the decision left American military assets, including the Bagram base, under Taliban control.
Bagram has been under Taliban control since the American forces retreated under a negotiated agreement. The base is currently a symbol of the Taliban’s triumph and is often displayed during official visits and military parades.
The demand for the return of the Bagram air base comes amidst ongoing tensions between the US and the Taliban-led Afghanistan. The base, a significant military asset, has been a point of contention since the US withdrawal.
The refusal by the Taliban not only underscores their assertion of sovereignty but also sets a precedent for future negotiations and demands.
The situation warrants close monitoring as it could potentially escalate existing tensions and impact future diplomatic relations.
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