2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

Australia’s security environment 41
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state fragility, including within our immediate neighbourhood,
caused by uneven economic growth, crime, social, environmental
and governance challenges and climate change
the pace of military modernisation and the development of more
capable regional military forces, including more capable ballistic
missile forces
the emergence of new complex, non-geographic threats, including
cyber threats to the security of information and communications
systems.
SECTION ONE STRATEGY
The United States and China
2.7 The roles of the United States and China in our region and the
relationship between them will continue to be the most strategically
important factors in the security and economic development of the
Indo-Pacific to 2035.
2.8 The United States will remain the pre-eminent global military power over
the next two decades. It will continue to be Australia’s most important
strategic partner through our long-standing alliance, and the active
presence of the United States will continue to underpin the stability
of our region. The global strategic and economic weight of the United
States will be essential to the continued stability of the rules-based
global order on which Australia relies for our security and prosperity.
The world will continue to look to the United States for leadership
in global security affairs and to lead military coalitions that support
international security and the rules-based global order. The United
States is committed to sustaining and advancing its military superiority
in the 21st century, including through its Defense Innovation Initiative.
2.9 Australia welcomes and supports the critical role of the United States
in ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia’s relationship
with the United States is broadly based and we build on that relationship
2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER