The Torch
Illuminating Security and Defence Issues
Great Power Competition
Russian spies turn European properties into “Trojan horses”, The Telegraph says
13 July, 2026
"Exploiting weak legal frameworks, clandestine Russian units are suspected of purchasing sensitive real estate close to military and civilian sites in at least a dozen European nations."...
Chinese supercomputer powered by homegrown chips tops US models in global ranking
13 July, 2026
China has clinched the top spot on a list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, overtaking the United States for the first time since 2017 with a model powered by homegrown chips amid an intense race for tech supremacy between the two superpowers....
What the Iran War Taught China About Fighting the United States
13 July, 2026
Iran could not defeat the United States militarily, but it never needed to—and China is taking note. By choking the Strait of Hormuz, spiking energy markets, and running down the clock, Tehran offered Beijing a case study in how to impose costs without seeking victory....
Can China Stop Its Demographic Slide? Can the United States?
12 June, 2026
China faces a problem that could strain its government, undermine its security, and sap its economic energy. It isn't having enough babies....
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Did Putin Return From China Empty-Handed?
12 June, 2026
With no key agreement signed on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, there is a risk that the window of opportunity for Russia will close if Chinese power generation becomes so green that new gas sources are no longer of any interest to Beijing....
The Asian Anchor
12 June, 2026
Since the end of World War II, U.S. strategy in Asia has relied on increasingly integrated partnerships with regional allies. Of those, Australia, Japan, and South Korea have been among the United States’ most reliable associates in solving regional and global problems. But political change in the United States has ushered in an era of retrenchment....
Baltic, Nordic officials urge Canadians to learn from the Russian threats they face
11 May, 2026
European officials are warning that Russia's meddling in the Baltic Sea is likely a preview of tactics Moscow could someday deploy in Canada's High North....
Expanding frontiers: how China normalises its presence
11 May, 2026
A major strategic shift in the Indo-Pacific is happening quietly: China’s presence in seas and ports far from its coast is becoming routine. The frequency of its appearances has been rising for about a decade. Now it’s approaching a point where China’s military presence has become normal and expected, not aggressive....
Where Are U.S. Military Forces Deployed in Europe?
11 May, 2026
Transatlantic tensions and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran have prompted the United States to decrease its troop presence in Europe, signaling a shift in security on the continent....
Head of military’s space division warns Russia is considering putting nuclear weapons in orbit
8 April, 2026
The head of Canada's military space division says the country "should absolutely be" concerned about Russia's potential capabilities amid global fears the Kremlin is considering putting nuclear weapons in place to target satellites....