The Government’s much-anticipated Strategic Defence Review, with its vision to make Britain safer – secure at home and strong abroad – was published on 2nd June. Led by External Reviewers, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG, General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE and Dr Fiona Hill CMG, its remit was twofold. Firstly, to identify what will be required to ensure that the UK has the military capability it needs to meet the challenges of a new and unpredictable threat era, from great power competition and a changed international order to the way that technology is transforming how war is fought. And secondly, how that can be done against a difficult economic backdrop.
From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through to Israel’s new conflict with Iran (and the potential involvement of the US), defence – and how to pay for it – is very much in the headlines. In view of the Trump administration’s challenge to Europe to step up on its own security, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to propose a 5% defence spending target for Allies at next week’s Summit in The Hague.
On Wednesday 2d July, we were delighted to welcome GSF Co-Chair, the Rt Hon the Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG and GSF Advisory Board member, General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE to talk to us about the task of producing the 2025 SDR, the first root-and-branch review of UK Defence in 25 years, with the geopolitical context continuing to deteriorate, and to describe the process of harnessing the best expertise from inside and outside Government to address the ‘most profound changes to defence for well over 100 years’. They discussed ‘The Strategic Defence Review 2025: Reflections On The Method & The Conclusions’ in an event chaired by Field Marshal the Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE DL, Chief of the Defence Staff (2013-2016).
To watch the event on our YouTube channel, please click here.
LORD ROBERTSON is Chancellor of the University of Dundee & Vice-Patron of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and he is a Senior Counsellor with The Cohen Group in Washington DC. He led the UK Government’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review. He was the 10th Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council from 1999-2003 and UK Secretary of State for Defence from 1997-1999. He was MP for Hamilton and then Hamilton South from 1978-99 and joined the House of Lords in 1999. He was born in Port Ellen, Islay of Islay, Scotland and educated at Dunoon Grammar School and Queens College, University of St Andrews when it became the University of Dundee where he took his MA(Hons) Economics degree. He is a Trustee of the British Forces Foundation, an Elder Brother of Trinity House, chairs the Ohrid Group (friends of North Macedonia), and he was a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on International Affairs & Defence. He is a Senior Adviser to Chatham House and is on the Advisory Council of the Centre for European Reform, and the International Advisory Board of the US Atlantic Council.
GENERAL SIR RICHARD BARRONS served as Commander Joint Forces Command, one of the six ‘Chiefs of Staff’ leading the UK Armed Forces, 2013-2016. His military career began as an artillery officer and included the last decade of the Cold War, leadership from Captain to General on military operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, and serving as the Director of all UK military operations as Lieutenant General. Now with a portfolio of commercial interests, including as Co-Chairman of Universal Defence & Security Solutions, he advises on senior leadership, defence and national security matters -especially Digital Age transformation for 21st Century warfare – and is a regular media commentator. He was one of the leaders of the UK Prime Minister’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review. His latest book, War & Peace: The Life & Times of General Sir Richard Barrons was published in 2024.