Trump Warns Afghanistan of ‘Severe Consequences’ if Bagram Airbase Not Returned
Washington/Kabul: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, saying that if the country fails to return the **Bagram Airbase** to the United States, there will be *“serious consequences.”*
In a statement on his social media platform **Truth Social**, Trump wrote: *“If Afghanistan doesn’t return Bagram Airbase to the people who built it — America — then it will be very bad.”*
According to a U.S. newspaper, Washington and the Taliban are currently holding talks regarding **counterterrorism cooperation**, including the possible deployment of a limited number of U.S. troops at Bagram. The negotiations are being led by **U.S. Special Representative Adam Boehler**.
If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!! President DJT
(TS: 20 Sep 17:29 ET)…
— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 20, 2025
Trump has repeatedly criticized the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, arguing that Washington should never have abandoned Bagram. He emphasized that the base holds strategic value, noting its proximity — just an hour away — from sites where China is believed to develop nuclear weapons.
During a recent visit to the UK, Trump told reporters alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that *“we gave the Taliban Bagram Airbase for free, but now we are trying to take it back.”* His remarks reportedly left the British premier visibly surprised.
The Bagram Airbase, America’s largest military installation in Afghanistan, was handed over to Afghan authorities in 2021 after two decades of U.S. presence. However, Trump has now vowed to reclaim both the base and military equipment left behind during the withdrawal.
