US President Donald Trump announced plans to recover control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, citing its strategic importance and criticizing the Taliban takeover as a result of “egregious incompetence” by the previous administration.
Trump’s Statement on Bagram Airbase
Donald Trump stated that the US wants to regain control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, describing it as “one of the most powerful bases in the world in terms of strength and size.” He added that the base is crucial for the US, saying, “You can land anything there. You can land a planet there.”
Trump also claimed that the base is located “an hour’s drive from where China produces its nuclear weapons,” and that the Taliban’s takeover was a result of “egregious incompetence” by the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Afghanistan’s Response
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to Trump’s statements, with Zakir Jalali, a ministry representative, stating that any American military presence in Afghanistan is excluded. He emphasized that the Afghan people have never accepted foreign military presence and that it was also rejected in the Doha agreement.
US Plans and Expert Analysis
Reports indicate that the Trump administration has been working to regain control of the Bagram base since at least March. Experts note that re-taking the base would likely require a large-scale invasion involving over 10,000 troops and advanced air defense systems, making it unlikely.
Analysts also question Trump’s claims about the base’s strategic importance and the alleged Chinese activities in the region, which have not been confirmed.
China’s Response
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian commented on Trump’s statements, saying that the future and fate of Afghanistan should be in the hands of the Afghan people. He added that inciting tensions and seeking confrontation in the region is not supported by the public.
