President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his criticism of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, claiming that China now controls Bagram Air Base, the largest former American military installation in the country.
“I was getting out, but I was going to keep Bagram,” Trump told reporters, referring to his administration’s plans for Afghanistan. “Right now, China has Bagram.”
Trump also argued that the withdrawal, overseen by former President Biden in 2021, emboldened Russia and contributed to its invasion of Ukraine. “When Putin looked over and saw how incompetently that was handled,” he said, “Afghanistan really started the problems with Russia and Ukraine.”
Trump’s remarks come as Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, has accused Democrats of blocking his efforts to halt U.S. aid to Afghanistan, arguing that some of the funds ultimately benefit the Taliban.
Since the U.S. withdrawal, “the U.S. has funneled $3.3 billion” into Afghanistan, Paul said, citing data from the Treasury Department. He contended that a portion of that money was reaching the Taliban.
“I have tried to eliminate this aid but have been stymied by Democrats,” he said.
Bismillah Taban, a military analyst, said Washington could take further steps to pressure the Taliban, such as cutting financial aid, expanding sanctions, and imposing additional travel restrictions on Taliban officials.
“These measures could have significant impacts on the Taliban and their regime,” he said.
The economic fallout from shifting U.S. policies has already been felt in Afghanistan. The suspension of foreign aid, Taban noted, has led to sharp fluctuations in the country’s currency market. The World Food Program has also warned that economic instability has forced dozens of humanitarian organizations to cease operations, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
