During his first Cabinet meeting of his second term, US President Donald Trump called for the retrieval of billions of dollars worth of military equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal in 2021. Trump harshly criticized the withdrawal, referring to it as a “disastrous exit” and lamenting the loss of high-tech military gear, including brand new trucks and advanced equipment.
Trump suggested that the United States should consider reclaiming this equipment, even hinting at the possibility of a military intervention to do so. He claimed that the Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, has been displaying and even selling some of this abandoned gear, including rifles and armored vehicles, making Afghanistan one of the largest sellers of military equipment globally.
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While Trump’s remarks reignited debate over the consequences of the withdrawal, experts warn that recovering the equipment would likely require military action, potentially leading to a re-invasion of Afghanistan. Many defense specialists also noted that sensitive equipment is often demilitarized before being abandoned, rendering it unusable, while much of the remaining gear was transferred to the now-defunct Afghan National Army (ANA).
The proposal has raised significant questions, with some cautioning that the cost and implications of such a recovery mission could be far-reaching. The White House has not yet commented on Trump’s suggestion.
