The president spoke at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, and the speech lasted about ten minutes.

After speaking to troops at the base on Tuesday afternoon, Obama made a speech to the American people, explaining the strategic partnership agreement between the United Sates and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which was signed by Obama and President Hamid Karzai Tuesday afternoon.

Obama said the agreement defines a new kind of relationship between the countries.

“A future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation, and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states,” Obama said. “A future in which the war ends, and a new chapter begins.”

The plan, which is designed as a transition of returning Afghanistan to the Afghan people, is made up of five steps. The first includes a transition of responsibility for security. Obama said there will be a goal of ensuring that the Afghan forces are in the lead for combat operations across the country by next year. The United States will shift into a support role.

This will also include bringing home troops, and a projected 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. By 2014, the Afghans will have full responsibility for the security of their country, Obama said.

The second step is training security forces, with a peak number of 352,000 this year, which will be kept that high for three years before a reduction in the military size. The third step is building an lasting partnership with Afghanistan.

“The agreement we signed today send a clear message to the Afghan people,” Obama said. “As you stand up, you will not stand alone.”

It’s planned for a decade that the two countries will stand side-by-side and support efforts by the Afghans to advance development and dignity for the country, Obama said.This includes transparency and accountability, and to protect the human rights of all Afghans.

Negotiations of peace with the Taliban are also a part of the plan going forward, Obama said, serving as a fourth branch of the partnership. Obama said they can be a part of the future if they break with al-Qaida and abide by the laws.

The last part of the partnership is to build a global consensus to support peace and stability in South Asia, Obama said.

“I have made it clear to Afghanistan’s neighbor ––Pakistan –– that it can and should be an equal partner in this process in a way that respects Pakistan’s sovereignty, interests and democratic institutions,” Obama said.

Obama said the goal of the partnership is to ultimately “destroy” al-Qaida, but it requires a clear timeline to end the war. Obama said the war is almost over.