Overview

• Trump announced the effort during a joint news conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling Bagram a strategic asset.
• CNN reported he has pressed officials for months about how to recover the facility, with internal discussions dating back to at least March.
• The airfield has remained under Taliban control since the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
• Trump cited the base’s proximity to where he claims China produces nuclear weapons and has alleged Chinese control, assertions Afghan authorities have rejected.
• The White House did not respond to questions about whether any plan exists to retake the base, although Trump touted Bagram’s long, heavy‑duty runway and past U.S. use.