Four years after expelling American troops, Afghanistan wants to move on from its conflict with the United States. Over the past week, Trump has repeatedly brought up the idea of putting U.S. troops back in Bagram. Rather than fighting for control of Afghanistan, these troops' role would be to stand guard against neighboring China. I liked it because of China," Trump said in July 2024. But friendships abroad do not have to come with a large American military presence overseas.