Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, second from left, is escorted through the courtyard of the French Ministry of Defense by French senior political adviser Jean-Claude Mallet as they walk to a meeting in Paris, France, on Feb. 1, 2013. Paris is the first stop of Carter’s six-day trip to meet with officials in France, Germany and Jordan. Carter also will visit with U.S. service members to thank them for their service.