US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington is working to regain control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, describing it as a strategically vital asset near China. Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump referred to the base’s importance and declared, “We’re trying to get it back. We want that base back.”
Bagram, originally built by the Soviets, became the central hub for American operations in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Less than a month after the strikes on the World Trade Center, US forces invaded Afghanistan, and within weeks toppled the Taliban government in Kabul.
For two decades, the base served as the nerve centre of NATO and US military activity until the 2021 withdrawal, which paved the way for the Taliban’s return to power. The war left some 2,500 American troops dead, while thousands of Afghan civilians also lost their lives. Since the US exit, Taliban fighters have controlled the facility.
The president’s comments underscored Washington’s renewed focus on strategic geography, particularly amid tensions with China. Bagram’s location, close to Central Asia and western China, has long made it a coveted military asset.
Trump’s remarks come as his administration reassesses its global posture, raising questions about whether the US is preparing to pressure the Taliban or engage regional actors to secure access to the base once again.
At the same press conference, Trump shifted from security matters to transatlantic ties, praising the “unbreakable bond” between the United States and Britain.
He and Prime Minister Starmer signed a landmark partnership deal covering artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy. Valued at £150 billion ($205 billion), the agreement represents the largest technology investment package in Britain’s history, involving US giants like Microsoft, Google, and Blackstone.
The announcement followed a day of royal pageantry, during which King Charles III hosted Trump at Windsor Castle with a state banquet and ceremonial welcome. Trump, who described the monarch as a “great gentleman and a great king,” left for Chequers where he and Starmer struck the tech accord, reinforcing close US-UK cooperation.
