Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., told Newsmax on Thursday that President Trump’s effort to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan is a strategically sound move, citing both US national security interests and China’s growing threat.
Appearing on Carl Higbie FRONTLINE, Moore said the base’s location and the scale of US investment before the withdrawal in 2021 make its recovery important.
“No, there’s no doubt that that absolutely makes strategic sense,” Moore said. “And you know what a tragedy that we actually don’t have eyes and ears there right now, considering the billions of dollars and lives that were lost, to be able to even have that location to begin with.”
Bagram, once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan, fell under Taliban control after American troops pulled out in August 2021.
Trump, speaking Thursday, confirmed he is actively pursuing its return.
“We gave it to them for nothing. We’re trying to get it back, by the way. That could be a little breaking news, we’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” Trump said. He added that the base’s proximity to China factored heavily into his plans. “We want that base back but one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”
Moore echoed that assessment, warning of Beijing’s growing influence.
“Look, China is the near-peer existential threat for the United States. It’s certainly something that we need to prioritize and try to deter,” he said. “And so to me, I think this does make a lot of sense.”
