London ( CNN ) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday announced a reduction in the British troop level in Afghanistan , removing 500 service members by the end of next year . In remarks to the House of Commons , Cameron said the move will bring the troop level to 9,000 , and more reductions will be carried out in the coming years . `` We are now entering a new phase in which the Afghan forces will do more of the fighting and patrolling , and our forces more training and mentoring , '' Cameron said . `` As President Obama said in his address last month , the mission is changing from combat to support . '' Cameron emphasized the move `` marks the start of a process which will ensure that by the end of 2014 there will not be anything like the number of British troops there as there are now -- and they will not be serving in a combat role . '' After 2014 , he said , Britain will have a `` major strategic relationship with Afghanistan , '' involving development , training , diplomacy and trade . `` Above all , we have a vital national security interest in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for international terrorism . So although forces will not long be present in a combat role , we will have a continuing military relationship , '' he said . The announcement was made on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the July 7 terror attack in London , and Cameron makes the point that the attack was `` inspired by al Qaeda and executed by extremists following the same perverted ideology that underpinned the September 11th attack in 2001 . '' Cameron noted that international troops have been putting pressure on al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan , pointed out the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden , and cited the weakening of al Qaeda . He also said there 's evidence to indicate that the Taliban 's `` momentum '' in Helmand province -- in which British troops have been based -- has been stopped . `` In 2009 , my predecessor told this House that some three-quarters of the most serious terrorist plots against Britain had links to Afghanistan and Pakistan . We must always be on our guard , but I am advised that this figure is now significantly reduced , '' Cameron said . The planned reduction comes as other countries also make preparations for drawdowns and shift to plans for non-combat missions in Afghanistan , such as training . U.S. President Barack Obama recently announced the withdrawal of 33,000 American troops by the end of next year . France announced that it would also begin to reduce troop numbers , saying it `` will initiate a progressive withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan , and will follow a timetable comparable to the withdrawal of the American troops . '' Canada this week is ending its combat mission in Afghanistan and transitioning to a training role . Britain 's 500-troop reduction does not include the previously announced plan to withdraw 426 British military personnel by February . Along with the military strides , Cameron said the Afghanistan security forces have been making great improvements . For example , he cited their handling of the aftermath of the Kabul hotel attack last week . `` The Afghan forces dealt with it professionally and speedily , only calling in assistance from a NATO helicopter to deal with insurgents on the roof , '' Cameron said . Britain has long had the second-largest contingent in NATO 's International Security Assistance Force , the coalition that has been fighting militants in Afghanistan . The United States has the largest . The number of British troops who have died in Afghanistan stands at 375 . The latest was on Monday , when Scott McLaren , from D Company , The Highlanders , 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland , was killed . He had been reported missing and was found later Monday after an `` extensive search , '' the Defence Ministry said .
Prime Minister David Cameron said the troop strength would drop to 9,000 . The drop comes as Canada ends its combat role . The United States is planning on a troop drawdown .