2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

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CHAPTER TWO: STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
economy presents opportunities for Australia to build and deepen
partnerships to pursue economic development.
SECTION ONE STRATEGY
2.4 In order for Australia and other countries to take advantage of the
unprecedented economic growth of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,
we must be willing and able to meet the threats to the peace and
stability that has underpinned these positive developments. Chapter
Five provides more detail on how we will continue developing our
international partnerships to cooperate in meeting these threats.
2.5 While there is no more than a remote prospect of a military attack
on Australian territory by another country in the period to 2035, the
environment within which Australia pursues its objectives of security
and prosperity will see new complexities and challenges over the
next 20 years. Our strategic planning recognises the regional and
global nature of Australia’s strategic interests and the different sets of
challenges created by the behaviours of states and non-state actors
such as terrorists.
2.6 Six key drivers will shape the development of Australia’s security
environment to 2035:
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the roles of the United States and China and the relationship
between them, which is likely to be characterised by a mix of
cooperation and competition
challenges to the stability of the rules-based global order,
including competition between countries and major powers trying
to promote their interests outside of the established rules
the enduring threat of terrorism, including threats emanating from
ungoverned parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Australians
will continue to be threatened by terrorism at home and abroad.
The spread of extremism and violence is likely to be worsened by
foreign terrorist fighters returning from conflicts to Australia and
other countries in our region