Trump Says US Working to Regain Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan

President Donald Trump announced efforts to regain control of Bagram air base in Afghanistan, which was abandoned during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and subsequently captured by the Taliban. Trump emphasized the strategic importance of the base, noting its proximity to a Chinese nuclear weapons facility as a key reason for wanting to reclaim it. The base was the largest U.S. airfield in Afghanistan during the two-decade occupation and was surrendered without resistance by local Afghan forces in 2021. Trump made these remarks during a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, highlighting the administration's intent to reestablish U.S. presence there. The White House and Pentagon have yet to comment on these plans. This move underscores ongoing geopolitical concerns regarding regional security and U.S. military positioning near China.