In a cabinet meeting early in his second administration, President Trump called for the U.S. to retrieve military equipment that was left in Afghanistan after troops withdrew four years ago. He pointed to the vast amounts of gear—including brand new trucks and other high-grade equipment—that were abandoned as the American forces left the region, arguing that these items, worth tens of billions of dollars, should still be under U.S. control.

Trump referred to the significance of Bagram Air Base, a large airfield in Afghanistan, suggesting that maintaining a presence there would have been a more prudent strategy. He claimed, though China has denied this, that the People’s Liberation Army has taken over the former base, using it as a display of American military might that was once on U.S. soil.

Addressing the issue further, he contended that the Taliban is now engaging in large-scale sales of American-made equipment, turning the nation into one of the largest markets for military gear. His comments combined both criticism of past decisions and a call to action that, in his view, would rectify the oversight by reclaiming the abandoned assets.

The discussion came against the backdrop of historical practices where the U.S. often leaves behind military materiel in combat zones since the cost of retrieval can outweigh the benefits. It is noted that sensitive equipment is typically rendered inoperable before being left behind, while other gear was transferred to the Afghan National Army—a force that ultimately collapsed, leading to further complications for U.S. interests in the region.

Defense experts and historical context remind us that reclaiming the equipment might imply a need for a re-engagement or even re-invasion of Afghanistan, a nation that has historically resisted extended foreign occupations. The White House has yet to respond to these comments, leaving the administration’s stance on the issue unclear.