(VOVworld) – US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter made his international debut Saturday with a visit to Afghanistan to see American troops and commanders.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, left, walks with U.S. Army Gen. John Campbell upon arrival at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 (Photo: AP)

Carter said he chose Afghanistan as his first overseas destination because around 10,000 American troops are still stationing there. The Pentagon chief is expected to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other leaders to assess whether U.S. withdrawal plans are too risky to Afghan security. Ashton Carter’s visit took place as US President Barack Obama is considering the plan to reduce US troops in Afghanistan. As schedule, the number of US troops in Afghanistan will decrease by half from 10,000 to 5,000 by the end of this year. The US troops present there will be enough to protect US embassy in Afghanistan by 2016. But President Obama has made a little change by allowing another 1,000 US troops to station in Afghanistan this year.