Trump wants Bagram, not even an inch for the Taliban
Trump wants Bagram, not even an inch for the Taliban
According to IranGate News Agency, less than two years after the hasty withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, the Bagram Airbase, a main symbol of the United States’ military presence in the region, has once again become the center of a new dispute among global powers.
The return of this base to the headlines started with Donald Trump’s controversial statements about the necessity of retaking Bagram, comments that not only provoked a strong response from the Taliban but also complicated the geopolitical dimension of the issue with China’s entry into the equation.
These developments are occurring while the region remains caught in a suspension between security threats, the competition of major powers, and the long-held desire of the Afghan people for stability and autonomy.
Return to Bagram: A Silent Battle Over a Strategic Base
In recent days, the Bagram Airbase has once again become the focal point of international tensions. Once the largest U.S. military center in Afghanistan, it is now considered a critical point in the region’s geopolitical equations.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, in two consecutive statements, has called for the retaking of this base and warned that if the Taliban refuse, bad things will happen. These remarks indicate a revival of an aggressive policy towards Afghanistan.
Taliban’s Resistance and Bagram as a Symbol of Independence
In response to these threats, the Taliban have taken a clear and firm stance. The Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has announced that no agreement will be made over even an inch of Afghan soil, and Bagram, as a symbol of national sovereignty, is a red line for the new Afghan government.
In their official statement, the Taliban also referred to the Doha Agreement, reminding that Washington had committed to avoiding the use of force and interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
These positions show that even with economic or political incentives, the Taliban are not currently ready to allow the return of U.S. military presence. The bitter experience of two decades of occupation and war is still alive in the historical memory of this group and a large portion of the Afghan people.
China Enters: The Geopolitical Aspect of the Issue
In this tense atmosphere, China has quickly entered the field.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country has announced that any attempt for a U.S. military return to Afghanistan is against the will of this country’s people and warned that increasing tensions in the region could destroy Afghanistan’s fragile stability.
Beijing’s stance can be analyzed from a geopolitical perspective. The Bagram Airbase is located not far from China’s sensitive military areas, and Washington’s return to this base could be perceived as a direct threat to China’s national security.
Trump also cited Bagram’s proximity to China’s strategic areas as one of the main reasons for retaking it in his recent statements.
Bagram is Not Just a Base
From the perspective of security observers, the renewed U.S. effort to return to Bagram is not merely a tactical move but part of a broader strategy to curb China’s growing influence in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Bagram is strategically positioned to monitor the four nuclear powers—China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. Additionally, its proximity to Iran’s eastern borders allows the U.S. to enhance its intelligence control.
After the withdrawal of American forces in 2021, Beijing expanded its economic influence in Afghanistan, relying on the Belt and Road Initiative. Washington is now seeking to regain the lost balance in the region.
Especially as the U.S. currently controls maritime routes in the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean, it is looking to complete its strategy with land-based pressure tools. Combining these two could create a new form of competition in the 21st century: controlling sea and land against China.
Suspension Between Threat, Resistance, and Balance
But is the U.S. return to Bagram possible? The answer remains shrouded in uncertainty.
The experience of the hasty U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, under simultaneous pressure from the Taliban and the Khorasan branch of ISIS and following the collapse of Ashraf Ghani’s government, showed that Washington faces complex challenges in securing its strategic interests.
On the other hand, analysts warn that while the return of American forces may help contain terrorist threats in the short term, it could turn Afghanistan into a new arena of competition among global powers in the long term.
A competition that will likely continue with Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Central Asia at its center.
An Uncertain Future in the Shadow of Power Competition
In such an environment, Afghanistan’s fate is once again subject to geopolitical games. A unilateral U.S. return without regional consensus or cooperation with international institutions could inflame conflicts.
In the meantime, the only guarantor of sustainable stability in Afghanistan is respect for the national sovereignty and the will of its people, a principle repeatedly emphasized by the United Nations and international institutions.
Ultimately, Afghanistan should not become a playground for major powers. The bitter lessons of the past two decades should guide efforts to prevent the repetition of costly mistakes that endanger regional stability and once again victimize the Afghan people.