Trump says US aims to regain Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington is seeking to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, calling it a strategic site near China.

“We're trying to get it back. We want that base back,” Trump said at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Soviet-built airstrip, later expanded by US forces, served as America’s main base in Afghanistan from 2001 until the 2021 withdrawal of NATO troops. The exit paved the way for the Taliban to regain control of the country. Over two decades of conflict, around 2,500 American soldiers were killed.

Trump’s remarks came as he and Starmer announced a major technology partnership aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The deal, which focuses on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy, is being described as the largest US investment package in British history. It includes commitments worth £150 billion ($205 billion) from firms such as Microsoft, Google, and Blackstone.

At the signing ceremony, Starmer said he and Trump were “leaders who genuinely like each other,” highlighting what he called an “unbreakable bond” between the two nations. Trump echoed the sentiment, calling the agreement “very big” and praising Britain as a key NATO ally.

Trump is in the UK on a state visit, which included royal ceremonies hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle before the political and economic talks with the British premier.