British Defense Secretary Liam Fox is cautioning against taking too many troops out of Afghanistan too early, weeks ahead of the expected start of the U.S. withdrawal from the country.

Fox made his comments Thursday while visiting British troops stationed in Afghanistan.

He echoed the view of U.S. officials by saying the coalition's military gains against the Taliban are far from irreversible. He said Britain's withdrawal of troops will depend on the situation.

The United States is expected to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July as the coalition moves to gradually hand over security control to the Afghans by 2014.