On February 20, 0215 the Pentagon issued the following statement regarding a telephone call between the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and his defense counterpart in the UK Michael Fallen:
“Secretary Carter spoke today via telephone with British Minister of Defense Michael Fallon. The secretary placed the call from Kandahar, Afghanistan where he was visiting with U.S. troops and receiving briefings on the status of coalition efforts to train, advise and assist Afghan National Security Forces.
This was Secretary Carter’s first conversation with a defense counterpart since assuming office, a reflection of the deep and abiding friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Secretary Carter thanked Minister Fallon for his leadership and for the UK’s contributions to global security efforts, to include the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan to the ongoing campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The two leaders also discussed the security situation in Ukraine, NATO revitalization efforts and the importance of innovation in the process of developing modern military capabilities. With respect to the latter, Secretary Carter expressed a deep interest in learning more about the defense review currently underway in the British Ministry of Defense.
Secretary Carter noted that he looked forward to continuing these important discussions when Minister Fallon visits the United States in early March.”
Source: Pentagon
Note: The British Armed Forces is a professional force with a strength in September 2014 of 162,550 Regular and 28,860 volunteer personnel. This gives a total strength of 191,410 Service Personnel.
As Sovereign and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is Head of the Armed Forces and their Commander-in-Chief
See related video: For Queen and Country – British Military Power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AORqkB1xV8