Trump Says ‘Bad Things’ Coming If Afghanistan Refuses to Return Bagram Air Base
WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump warned Saturday that “bad things” could happen if Afghanistan does not return control of Bagram Air Base to the United States, and refused to rule out sending American troops to retake the facility.
“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 wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump claimed the U.S. has been in discussions to regain the base, which was a central hub for American military operations following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Speaking to reporters Friday, he said negotiations with Afghanistan were ongoing.
Bagram was taken over by the Taliban after U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, ending a 20-year military presence and leading to the collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government.
Afghan officials have publicly rejected any return of American troops or bases. Meanwhile, current and former U.S. defense officials caution that retaking Bagram could resemble a full-scale re-invasion, potentially requiring over 10,000 troops and advanced air defense systems.
Trump, who has previously floated the idea of acquiring strategic assets like the Panama Canal and even Greenland, has long shown interest in Bagram. When asked Saturday if he would consider military action to reclaim the base, he avoided a direct answer: “We won’t talk about that.”
“We’re talking to Afghanistan now. We want it back — and we want it back soon, right away,” Trump added. “If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m gonna do.”
Bagram Air Base, once the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, housed fast-food outlets, shops, and a large prison complex. Experts say securing and operating the base again would require significant resources and would face threats from groups like ISIS, al Qaeda, and even potential missile attacks from Iran — which previously targeted U.S. bases in the region.
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