Overview

• President Trump warned that “bad things are going to happen” if Afghanistan does not hand Bagram back and said U.S. officials are talking with Afghan authorities.
• Taliban officials publicly dismissed the demand, stressing Afghanistan’s independence and invoking the U.S. pledge in the 2020 Doha accord not to use or threaten force.
• The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. officials discussed potential U.S. use of Bagram as a counterterrorism launch point, though no agreement has been announced.
• There is no public evidence of a U.S. plan to retake the base; Trump declined to say whether he would send troops, and analysts warn a reoccupation would face major security risks from ISIS-K and al-Qaeda.
• Trump highlighted Bagram’s proximity to Chinese strategic sites, while Beijing urged respect for Afghan sovereignty and cautioned against heightening regional tensions.