London ? Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised Britain’s contributions to the U.S.-led military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan as he embarked Sunday on his second overseas trip since taking over at the Pentagon last month.

Gates met with Prime Minister Tony Blair and later with Des Browne, the British defense secretary, to discuss President Bush’s new approach in Iraq and Britain’s plan to withdraw troops from southern Iraq.

Britain, which has been Washington’s foremost ally on Iraq, has plans to withdraw some of its 7,000 troops in Shiite-dominated Basra, in southern Iraq, and to transition control of that area to the Iraqis.