It’s Christmas in Afghanistan for John McCain

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is spending his Christmas Day in Afghanistan. The incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has tweeted a series of photos from his trip.

The photos show McCain meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and the country’s CEO, Abdullah Abdullah. He also tweeted a picture of the “great DFAC staff” or dining facility staff in Kabul.

With the great DFAC staff in #Kabul – thanks for all you do! #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/PZA7VC4pbv

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) December 25, 2014

It’s a critical time for Afghanistan, with most U.S. troops being pulled out of the country at year’s end as the nation ends its longest war. McCain has been a top critic of President Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan, including the removal of troops.

When he officially takes the gavel of the Foreign Relations panel next year, he’ll have a new post from which to shape and challenge Obama’s policies.

According to a statement released by Afghanistan’s presidency, Ghani praised the sacrifices of U.S. troops during their 13-year engagement in Afghanistan during the meeting with McCain.

The U.S. senator emphasized the United States’s long support for Afghanistan in his comments, according to the statement.