Russia OPPOSES U.S. reclamation of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

10/09/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned against any U.S. military re-entry into Afghanistan, calling it “categorically unacceptable” and invoking the Soviet Union’s failed Afghan war as a cautionary tale.
U.S. President Trump has publicly demanded the U.S. reclaim the strategically vital airbase, calling Biden’s abandonment of it a “mistake” and threatening consequences if Afghanistan refuses.
Moscow formally recognized the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate, positioning itself as the region’s dominant power broker and breaking from Western isolation policies toward the regime.
Russia seeks to expand trade and infrastructure ties while countering the influence of adversary nations. The Taliban, eager to end isolation, praised Russia’s move and promised security for investments.
Despite Russia’s backing, the Taliban’s harsh restrictions on women and girls continue to hinder broader international recognition, even as regional powers compete for control of Central Asia’s future.

Russia has voiced out its opposition to the U.S. reclaiming the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which was abandoned during the Biden administration – and something current U.S. President Donald Trump wants to re-acquire.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued this warning on Tuesday, Oct. 7, during a conference at the Russian capital Moscow. The aforementioned meeting saw a delegation of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban government and officials from China, India, Iran and several Central Asian nations in attendance.

“The deployment of military infrastructure of any third countries on the territory of Afghanistan, as well as on the territories of neighboring states, is categorically unacceptable under any pretext,” Lavrov stated. He framed any potential U.S. return as a recipe for disaster. According to Lavrov, the Soviet Union’s decade-long war with Afghanistan that ended in 1989 “should have taught everyone the right lessons long ago.”

The foreign minister’s remarks are in opposition to Trump, who has publicly lamented the loss of the base as a “mistake.” In a recent interview, he remarked: “We are trying to get it back.” The real estate mogul pointed out that the Biden administration gave the base to the Taliban “for nothing,” and highlighted its strategic proximity to China.

Trump escalated his rhetoric in a subsequent post on Truth Social: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen!” This dispute over the airbase has become a new flashpoint, further straining the already tense relationship between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has soured over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“The U.S. lost Bagram Air Base due to the Biden administration’s hasty and poorly planned withdrawal, which abandoned critical infrastructure and equipment while freeing dangerous prisoners,” Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch engine recounts. “This reckless decision allowed the Taliban to swiftly seize control, emboldening global adversaries and costing American lives.”

From pariah to partner: How Russia is rewriting Afghan diplomacy

The Tuesday summit in the Russian capital also saw Moscow formally recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, positioning itself as the region’s primary power broker. The bold diplomatic shift marks a decisive break from the Western approach to the Islamist regime. This time, the Taliban aims to secure Russian economic and strategic interests by filling the vacuum left by Washington’s 2021 withdrawal.

For the Taliban, Russia’s recognition is a crucial step toward ending its international isolation. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi praised what he called “the bold move of the Russian Federation to officially recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” and urged other nations to follow suit.

Muttaqi used the Moscow platform to claim his government has ensured “comprehensive security after four decades and provide a good ground for investment, economy, transit and connectivity.” Lavrov supported this economic vision, criticizing Western sanctions and asset freezes as “hostile policies” and expressing Russia’s desire to expand business and energy ties with Kabul.

Despite this diplomatic courtship, the Taliban’s domestic policies remain a significant barrier to broader international acceptance. Since retaking power in 2021, the group has reimposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law – barring women from most public roles and girls from education beyond the sixth grade. These actions have drawn widespread condemnation and limited the group’s engagement with the wider world.

As regional powers jockey for position, Russia’s recognition of the Taliban represents a calculated gamble. By embracing a regime once considered a pariah, Moscow is seeking to lock in its influence in what it considers its traditional sphere of influence, block American re-entry and pave the way for infrastructure projects that could cement its economic dominance. The standoff over Bagram Air Base is now a central test of this new alignment, with the future of Central Asian security and great-power competition hanging in the balance.

Watch U.S. President Donald Trump telling reporters that Washington wants Bagram Air Base back at the soonest in this clip.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

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