Durham Chancellor co-authors Strategic Defence Review

By Isla Mustin and William Milne

The Strategic Defence Review 2025,  co-authored by Durham Chancellor Fiona Hill, was published on Monday 2nd June.

The review, according to the government, “signifies a landmark shift in our deterrence and defence: moving to warfighting readiness to deter threats and strengthen security in the Euro-Atlantic.”

The review was led by Lord Robertson, a former Defence Secretary and former Secretary General of NATO. Robertson also oversaw the Labour party’s last major defence review in 1998. 

Two external reviewers supported Lord Robertson in conducting the new SDR. The first being 

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former Commander Joint Forces Command and former Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. The other reviewer being Dr Fiona Hill. 

Fiona Hill, originally from County Durham, previously served as a senior foreign affairs advisor in the US government. She was deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the US National Security Council.

Image: Kuhlmann /MSC via Wikimedia