Outgoing Pentagon chief heads to Europe next week

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will travel to Portugal, Spain, Italy and Britain next week in his final trip as Pentagon chief focusing on the NATO alliance and the war in Afghanistan, officials said.

“This trip provides an opportunity to meet with allies on NATO cooperation, as well as discuss the mission in Afghanistan,” Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters Tuesday.

Asked if Panetta’s week-long visit to European capitals sent the wrong message at a time of a looming budget crisis in Washington, Little defended the trip as a chance to thank NATO allies for their countries’ sacrifices in Afghanistan.

“The secretary of defense wants to see very strong NATO allies who have fought and died in Afghanistan. He wants to see our foreign counterparts to reaffirm our very strong commitment to transatlantic defense alliances,” he said.

“This is a trip that is about trying to drive even deeper relationships with very close allies. There is a lot of work to be done with our European allies, and I would remind you, … that this is his first major swing through these capitals,” he added.

Panetta is due to retire from his post after a lifetime of politics and top government jobs in Washington, including a stint as chief of staff under former president Bill Clinton.

President Barack Obama on Monday named his nominee to succeed Panetta, former Republican senator and Vietnam veteran Chuck Hagel.