After nearly a year of waiting, the UK's Strategic Defence Review has been published. 

If that means nothing to you - don’t worry, we explain it all on today’s show. The SDR was intended to be a root-and-branch review of the UK Armed Forces that would provide a road map to keep the country safe for decades to come - especially in the face of the growing threat of Russia.

But already there are questions over funding and how to boost recruitment. Venetia chats to Lord Richard Dannatt, former chief of the army, about what the review is missing, and Alistair Carns, minister for people and veterans at the Ministry of Defence. 

Plus Roland Oliphant goes through the report's highlights and the outstanding questions. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/02/strategic-defence-review-royal-navy/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/01/strategic-defence-review-lord-robertson-fiona-hill-barrons/

https://linktr.ee/BattleLines

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