The US has designated Afghanistan a major non-NATO ally, giving the country special privileges as the US prepares to pull its troops out in 2014.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the move, which provides a long-term framework for security and defence cooperation, during a brief visit to Kabul where she had a breakfast meeting with President Hamid Karzai.
"We see this as a powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan's future," Mrs Clinton said at a press conference after the talks.
"This is the kind of relationship that we think will be especially beneficial as we do the transition."
The new status, which comes into effect immediately, makes it easier for a country to purchase and finance its acquisition of US defence equipment, along with other benefits.
"The United States is not abandoning Afghanistan," Ms Clinton said. "Quite the opposite: we are building a partnership with Afghanistan that will endure."
This is the first such designation by President Barack Obama's administration.
Other countries with the designation include Pakistan, Israel, Egypt, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
Ms Clinton said the security situation in Afghanistan "though far from ideal, is certainly more stable", while the capacity of the Afghan security forces had "significantly improved".
NATO leaders have endorsed plans to hand Afghan forces the lead for security across their country by mid-2013, while foreign troops will gradually switch their focus from combat to support mode.
NATO has a total of 130,000 soldiers helping the Karzai government fight an insurgency by Taliban militants. They are due to withdraw by the end of 2014 when the transition process is complete.
The US and Afghanistan have already signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, which includes commitments on promoting democracy, good governance, advancing long-term security with the provision of foreign funds for the Afghan forces.
