ClipWire

Efforts to Reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

Efforts to Reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

World | 9/18/2025

The Trump administration has reportedly undertaken a discreet effort to reclaim control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan from the Taliban, sources familiar with the matter revealed. President Donald Trump has been quietly pressing his national security advisors over several months to explore strategies for the base’s retrieval. Bagram Air Base, situated about 30 miles north of Kabul, holds strategic significance as a key military installation in the region.

The base, once a critical hub for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, was handed over to Afghan forces in 2014 as part of the drawdown of American troops in the country. However, recent developments indicate a renewed interest within the Trump administration to potentially regain control of the base amid ongoing security concerns in the region. The administration’s covert efforts in this regard have not been publicly disclosed until now.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the administration’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers regarding Bagram Air Base. The push to retake the base underscores the administration’s focus on addressing security challenges in Afghanistan, particularly in the wake of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed earlier this year. The agreement aimed to pave the way for a reduction in violence and the eventual withdrawal of American troops from the region.

While the administration’s efforts to reclaim Bagram Air Base have been characterized as low-profile, the move signals a strategic shift in U.S. policy towards Afghanistan. The administration’s persistence in pursuing the base’s recapture indicates a broader commitment to asserting influence and safeguarding American interests in the region. As the situation continues to evolve, the implications of these quiet yet significant developments on the ground remain to be seen.