Speaking in London (UK) on September 18, US President Donald Trump said that the US is “trying to get [Bagram airbase] back” from the Taliban, who “…need things from us.” He also said it’s “one of the biggest air bases in the world” and “an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” and later added that “bad things are going to happen” if the US doesn’t get Bagram.

Reoperationalising and securing Bagram, in addition to arranging a long and complex logistical line, would, according to the 2021 testimony of former US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to the US Congress, require the presence of at least 5,000 US troops and associated military platforms.

So, why does the US want Bagram? The answer lies in the strategic posture of China’s People Liberation Army, and Bagram’s geogra

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