Trump warns Afghanistan to return Bagram Air Base

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Afghanistan on Saturday, saying “bad things” would happen if the country does not hand back control of the Bagram Air Base to the United States.

Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!”

The comments come amid reports that Washington is exploring the possibility of re-establishing a limited US presence at the former military stronghold. On Friday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that talks were underway.

“We’ll see what happens with Bagram. We’re talking to Afghanistan. It should have never been given up,” he said.

Asked later by a reporter whether he would consider putting American troops back on the ground to retake the base, Trump declined to give specifics. “We won’t talk about that. We are talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back and want it back soon, right away. And if they don’t, you are going to find out what I’m going to do,” he warned before attending the American Cornerstone Institute Founder’s Dinner in Mt. Vernon.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited a US official, the Trump administration has begun preliminary discussions with the Taliban. The talks, led by special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler, are said to involve potential prisoner exchanges, economic issues, and security cooperation.

“There was no reason to give it up. We were going to keep Bagram, the air base,” Trump added.

Located north of Kabul, Bagram was the largest US installation during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. It was fully abandoned during America’s withdrawal in 2021, marking a symbolic end to two decades of US military presence in the country.