ThePrint CutTheClutter: Why Trump wants Soviet-built Bagram air base in Afghanistan back from Taliban, & the China factor
Sep 22, 2025
The strategic significance of Bagram air base takes center stage, highlighting its history and importance during the US occupation. Trump's claims about regaining control spark debate, leading to a fact-check of his motives and the backlash from the Taliban. The episode dives into the geopolitical chess game, touching on hostage diplomacy and the potential implications for counterterrorism, all while considering China's interests in the region. The discussion also reflects on Cold War nostalgia and Afghanistan's pivotal role between superpowers.
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Bagram's Strategic Legacy
- Bagram is a strategically placed, Soviet-built airbase north of Kabul with a very long runway and heavy infrastructure.
- Its scale and location made it the largest base in Afghanistan and key to regional access.
Trump's Revisionist Claim
- Trump claims the US 'lost' Bagram and says he wants it back, but the base was built by the Soviets decades earlier.
- The Doha agreements under Trump also did not secure any US retention of Afghan bases.
Trump's Cabinet Comments
- Shekhar Gupta recounts Trump saying at a cabinet meeting that the US 'never wanted to give it back' and considered retrieving equipment.
- Gupta notes Americans often leave equipment behind when they withdraw from conflicts.