Russia has issued a strong warning to the United States over reports that Washington is considering regaining control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
During high-level talks in Moscow with a delegation from Afghanistan’s Taliban government, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said any renewed U.S. military presence in the region could “destabilize the situation” and trigger new conflicts.
Lavrov stated that “the deployment of military infrastructure of any third countries on the territory of Afghanistan, or neighboring states, is categorically unacceptable.” He emphasized that foreign military bases have repeatedly brought turmoil to the region and that “everyone should have learned this lesson long ago.”
The comments came after reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump had pushed for America to retake Bagram Air Base once the largest U.S. military site during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, rejected the idea, asserting that no foreign troops would be allowed to return.
Trump has said the base’s strategic location, just an hour from where China develops its nuclear weapons, makes it critical for U.S. security interests.
Lavrov, meanwhile, praised the Taliban for its ongoing fight against Islamic State and for steps taken to curb the drug trade. He also expressed Russia’s desire to strengthen economic and anti-terrorism cooperation with Afghanistan.
The Moscow meeting included officials from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, signaling growing regional coordination over Afghanistan’s future.
The Taliban retook control of the country in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Since then, the group has come under international criticism for re-imposing harsh restrictions on women and girls banning them from higher education, most workplaces, and public spaces like parks and gyms.
Lavrov’s warning also reflects Russia’s historical sensitivity: the Soviet Union’s decade-long war in Afghanistan (1979–1989) ended with heavy losses and a full withdrawal.
Currently, Russia is one of the few nations maintaining open diplomatic channels with the Taliban, positioning itself as a regional power broker while warning Washington to stay out of Central Asia.
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