Trump Threatens “Bad Things” Over Bagram Airbase; Says U.S. Is “Trying to Take Back” Strategic Hub

September 21, 2025 MTIMES 123 Views Afghanistan response Bagram, Afghanistan sovereignty, Bagram Airbase, Doha Agreement, Kabul Bagram control, Taliban control Bagram, Trump Bagram threat, Truth Social Trump, US military bases, US-Afghanistan relations 4 min read

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a stark warning to Afghanistan, saying that “bad things are going to happen” if Kabul does not hand back the Bagram Airbase the large military complex north of Kabul that served as the main hub for U.S. and NATO operations during the two-decade war. Trump’s comments, posted on his Truth Social account and reiterated to reporters at the White House, came after he told British hosts on a recent visit that Washington is “trying to take back” the base.

Trump posted on Truth Social: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” He later told reporters the United States is in talks with Afghan authorities and stressed: “We want it back, and we want it back soon, right away. If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m gonna do.”

Trump threatens Afghanistan over Bagram statement and context

Bagram Airbase, roughly 50 km north of Kabul, was the central staging ground for U.S. and NATO operations in Afghanistan for about two decades. Following the full withdrawal of American and allied forces in 2021, the Taliban assumed control of the site. The base also became infamous for housing detention facilities used during the “war on terror.”

Trump’s renewed focus on Bagram has triggered questions about Washington’s intent whether the U.S. seeks diplomatic pressure, negotiated access, or some form of re-engagement on the ground. His explicit public warning and reference to ongoing talks with Afghan authorities have heightened international attention and prompted swift pushback from Afghan officials.

Afghan response and the Doha Agreement reference

Afghan leaders have rejected any ceding of territory. Senior Afghan officials have stressed that Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are inviolable, and they referenced the Doha Agreement the 2020 pact that set terms for U.S. withdrawal, including commitments against the use of force and interference. Afghan spokespeople have urged adherence to those commitments and called for diplomacy over threats.

Observers note that any attempt to reclaim a major military facility raises complex legal, political and security questions from sovereignty and treaty obligations to regional stability and could complicate U.S. relations with other regional powers.

Why Bagram matters: strategic, operational and historical significance

Bagram has long been the largest foreign military installation in Afghanistan. Its strategic value derives from:

proximity to Kabul and northern routes;
logistical capacity for air operations, cargo and force projection;
deep infrastructure that supported intelligence, detention and detention-related facilities during the conflict.

The base’s history is contentious: human rights groups documented detainee abuse and indefinite detention at the site during the US-led campaign, adding a controversial legacy to its operational profile. Its control since 2021 has been a symbol of the post-withdrawal order in Afghanistan.

International reaction and possible scenarios

Trump’s statements have sparked speculation about U.S. policy options diplomatic negotiations for access, targeted security cooperation, increased pressure on the Taliban, or contingency measures. Within the U.S., some lawmakers and analysts have warned that public threats risk destabilising fragile diplomatic channels; others argue that such pressure is needed to protect U.S. strategic interests.

Regional governments and multilateral actors will likely watch developments closely. Any effort to regain physical control, even temporarily, would present significant logistical and political challenges and could provoke strong regional responses.

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