At the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow on Tuesday, the three Asian powers – often at odds over borders and regional influence – joined countries including Iran and Russia in rejecting Washington’s push to reclaim the base.

“They [countries present at the Moscow Format] called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability,” said a joint statement published by the Russian foreign ministry.

Representatives from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also attended, with a delegation from Belarus taking part as guests. The Moscow Format, established in 2017, has long served as a platform for regional dialogue on Afghanistan.

The Trump administration’s stated goal has raised concerns over renewed US military presence in the region. Trump has publicly argued that the US should retake Bagram because of its proximity to western China, claiming it lies close to where Beijing develops its nuclear weapons.

Bagram, located 44 kilometres (27 miles) north of Kabul, was originally a Soviet-era airbase set up in the 1950s.