The Torch
Illuminating Security and Defence Issues
Great Power Competition
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....
How Chinese, Russian Arctic ambitions are fueling a U.S. polar icebreaker mission
8 April, 2026
The once-impenetrable Arctic waters have become the latest battleground for sea dominance among military and maritime vessels, as increased activity by both the Chinese and Russian Coast Guard and naval ships in recent months has raised concern in the U.S....
If we can’t name China’s cyberattacks, we lose trust in ourselves
8 April, 2026
In the space of just a few days, two big US tech companies took different approaches to China’s cyberattacks. Palo Alto Networks generically referred to a global cyber espionage operation by unnamed actors while Google specifically named China as the globe’s leading cyber security threat. That inconsistency hurts everyone but China.
Protracted Great-Power War: A Preliminary Assessment
10 March, 2026
This study provides preliminary observations and insights on the character and conduct of protracted great-power war.1 It finds the U.S. Department of Defense is giving insufficient attention to preparing for such wars. While the probability of an extended great-power war may be low, the costs involved in waging one would likely be extraordinarily high, making it an issue of strategic significance for senior Defense Department leaders....
Russia in the High North: Russian Strategy and Escalation Risks in the High North After the Russia-Ukraine War
10 March, 2026
In recent decades, the High North has played an increasingly important role in Russian strategic thinking. The region hosts an array of Russian military capabilities, including many of the country’s nuclear assets; provides a rich resource base for the Russian economy; and offers a gateway to strategically important sea lines of communication and transit routes that Russia expects will become increasingly contested because of the effects of climate change....
Xi’s Purge: End of Collective Military Rule
10 March, 2026
Xi Jinping’s new Chairman Responsibility System ends collective military rule. The purge of top generals like Zhang Youxia cements absolute control over China’s armed forces.
Russia’s Grinding War in Ukraine: Massive Losses and Tiny Gains for a Declining Power
2 February, 2026
Despite claims of battlefield momentum in Ukraine, the data shows that Russia is paying an extraordinary price for minimal gains and is in decline as a major power. Since February 2022, Russian forces have suffered nearly 1.2 million casualties, more losses than any major power in any war since World War II. At current rates, combined Russian and Ukrainian casualties could reach 2 million by the spring of 2026. After seizing the initiative in 2024, Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 15 and 70 meters per day in their most prominent offensives, slower than almost any major offensive campaign in any war in the last century....