Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has sounded fresh alarm over what he described as Western efforts to re-establish a military presence in Afghanistan, four years after NATO’s withdrawal from the war-torn country.
Addressing the “Eurasian Assembly” in Perm, Lavrov claimed that NATO is exploring new channels to regain influence in Afghanistan, hinting at the possible redeployment of Western forces. While he stopped short of detailing the mechanisms, Lavrov accused the alliance of harbouring “hidden agendas” under the guise of humanitarian or diplomatic engagement.
“We are witnessing renewed attempts by the West to return to the Afghan theatre, from which it withdrew following the Taliban’s takeover,” Lavrov said. “We are not opposed to international cooperation, but it must be transparent and free of covert objectives.”
The Russian minister denounced any potential moves to re-establish NATO military infrastructure in Central Asia, likening such efforts to “planting a new time bomb” in the region. His remarks follow recurring criticism of Western engagement with the Taliban, which Moscow claims is often driven by strategic rather than stabilising intent.
Lavrov’s comments coincided with remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called for regaining control of Bagram Airbase once the linchpin of American operations in Afghanistan. Trump has controversially suggested that the base lies within striking distance of China’s nuclear facilities, and has claimed that Beijing took possession of Bagram after the U.S. withdrawal.
The Taliban, however, has remained firm in its opposition to any foreign military presence. Reacting to Trump’s statements, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated that no foreign forces would be permitted on Afghan soil under the current administration.
Despite Moscow’s public concern over a possible NATO return, Russia has in recent years warmed to the Taliban. In 2023, Moscow suspended the group’s terrorist designation, and high-ranking officials, including the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, have made official visits to Kabul. In December 2024, President Vladimir Putin stated that Afghanistan’s situation was “stabilising,” and affirmed that Russia’s bilateral relations with the Taliban would continue to expand.
Adding a provocative twist, Afghan political figure Gulbuddin Hekmatyar recently alleged that Moscow and Washington are secretly negotiating a deal in which the U.S. would concede ground in Ukraine in exchange for strategic footholds in Afghanistan
including Bagram and access to U.S. weapon stockpiles left behind during the withdrawal.
Speculation was further fuelled by a recent visit to Kabul by a U.S. delegation led by former envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Adam Boehler. While the visit was officially unannounced, sources claim discussions covered a range of sensitive issues, including the release of American hostages, retrieval of military hardware, and a Taliban request to transfer control of the Afghan embassy in Washington.
As geopolitical rivalry intensifies across Eurasia, Lavrov’s warnings mark a growing unease in Moscow over potential Western maneuvers in Afghanistan a country that remains a crucible of strategic influence more than two decades after the start of the U.S.-led invasion.
