NATO Seeking Return To Afghanistan, Says Russian FM

Speaking at the “Eurasian Assembly” in the city of Perm, Lavrov stated that, four years after their withdrawal, NATO is now seeking new avenues to reestablish a presence in the country.

Lavrov alleged that NATO intends to return to Afghanistan, though he did not elaborate on the specific mechanisms by which the United States or the alliance might attempt to re-engage.

This is not the first time the Russian foreign minister has voiced concerns over renewed Western involvement in Afghanistan. He has previously criticised the West’s engagement with the Taliban and warned of “hidden agendas” behind such initiatives. Lavrov condemned any efforts to restore NATO military bases in the region, describing such moves as unacceptable and likening them to “planting a new time bomb”.

“We have observed that the West is actively attempting to reenter the Afghan arena, from which it withdrew after the Taliban assumed control,” Lavrov said. “We do not object, provided that the participation of Western countries in these joint efforts is transparent and devoid of hidden motives.”

Lavrov’s remarks come amid repeated claims by former US President Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in regaining control of Bagram Airbase. Trump has argued that the United States should have maintained its hold on the base, which he claims lies only an hour from China’s nuclear facilities, and has alleged that China took control of Bagram following the US withdrawal.

The Taliban, for its part, has consistently rejected the presence of any foreign forces in Afghanistan. In response to Trump’s statements, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated that, under Taliban rule, foreign military forces will not be permitted on Afghan soil.

Despite Moscow’s concerns about a potential NATO return, Russia has in recent years cultivated closer ties with the Taliban. The Russian government has suspended the group’s designation as a terrorist organisation, and senior Russian officials including the Secretary of the National Security Council have visited Kabul.

In December 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that Afghanistan’s situation was stabilising, and that Moscow had established bilateral relations with the Taliban administration that would continue to deepen.

Meanwhile, some Afghan political figures have also commented on the potential for renewed US involvement. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e-Islami, recently claimed in a statement that Moscow and Washington are pursuing a deal under which the United States would cede Ukraine to Russia in exchange for control over Bagram Airbase and access to American weaponry currently in Afghanistan.

Speculation intensified following a recent high-level visit to Kabul by a US delegation led by Adam Boehler and Zalmay Khalilzad. The Taliban reportedly requested that the United States transfer control of the Afghan embassy in Washington. Sources also indicated that discussions during the visit addressed the release of American hostages, the retrieval of US weaponry from Taliban hands, and other political and security matters.