President Donald Trump said Thursday he is working to re-establish a US presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which fell into Taliban hands after the US withdrawal four years ago. Trump said he disagrees with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain's plan to recognize a Palestinian state.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he is working to re-establish a U.S. presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which fell to the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal four years ago.

Thoughts expressed in a press conference with British PM Starmer

Trump made the remarks at a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the end of his UK visit, linking the idea to his biggest rival, China.

Responding to a question about ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Trump said of the Bagram base, "We're trying to get it back." However, the White House did not immediately respond to questions about what plans he or the Pentagon had for returning to the sprawling air base.

It's unclear whether the US has held any new direct or indirect talks with the Taliban government about a withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, Trump has indicated that the Taliban, struggling with economic woes, international recognition, internal strife and rival militants since coming to power in 2021, may be open to a US troop withdrawal.

"We're trying to get it back because they need something from us too," Trump said, adding, "We want that base because China builds its nuclear weapons an hour away from that site."

Trump disagrees with British PM on Palestinian statehood

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he disagrees with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain's plan to recognize a Palestinian state, as the leaders discussed the war in Gaza.

"I have a disagreement with the prime minister on this issue - it's one of our few disagreements," Trump said at a news conference with Starmer at Chequers, the British prime minister's residence, on the second day of his state visit.

Britain said this

Starmer announced in July that Britain would move to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel met certain conditions, including a ceasefire in Gaza. The issue proved to be one of the few stumbling blocks in the united front presented by Starmer and Trump during the press conference.

 PC:Jagran