NEW DELHI: Australia has identified India as key security and defence partner to maintain stability and rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing strategic ambitions by an assertive China that impacts both Delhi and Canberra In its recently released Defence White Paper for 2016 (most ambitious Defence document so far) Canberra has identified Delhi as its key defence partner for the Indian Ocean Region. "India is an increasingly important economic and security partner for Australia and we share key interests in regional stability and order. India’s modernisation of its armed forces and participation in the regional security architecture, particularly through the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and Indian Ocean Rim Association, supports Australia and India’s shared interests in Indian Ocean security," pointed out Australia's Defence White Paper.According to Canberra India is also increasing its security partnerships, including with Australia, the United States, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam. Among these USA is the most important defence partner for Australia. While Japan and Indonesia are traditional partners for Canberra, the strategic relations between Australia and Vietnam are growing.The defence paper predicts, "In addition to having a stronger role in the Indo-Pacific region, India is also likely to become a more active and influential global power, supported by its economic growth. India could be the world’s third-largest economy before 2030. India’s relationships with other major powers including China, the United States and Japan will helpshape the global security environment out to 2035."India's defence relations with Australia has been growing over the past couple of years. It may be recalled that the two concluded Framework for Security Cooperation during Narendra Modi's trip to Australia in November 2014. The Framework lays down an action plan ranging from dialogue at the PM level to expanding defence dialogues and joint exercises and possible joint defence production besides joint counter-terror partnership.Australia has listed one of its key Strategic Defence Interest is in a stable Indo-Pacific region and rules-based global order which supports Australia’s interests making same cause as that of India. "The Indo-Pacific includes North Asia, the South China Sea and the extensive sea lines of communication in the Indian and Pacific Oceans that support Australian trade. A stable rules-based regional order is critical to ensuring Australia’s access to an open, free and secure trading system and minimising the risk of coercion and instability that would directly affect Australia’s interests. A stable rules-based global order serves to deal with threats before they become existential threats to Australia, and enables our unfettered access to trading routes, secure communications and transport to support Australia’s economic development."“The growing prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based global order on which Australia relies for open access to our trading partners are based on the maintenance of peace and stability. Over the last 70 years that peace and stability has been underpinned by a strong United States presence in our region and globally as well as active engagement by regional states in building a rules-based order,” the paper pointed out without any direct reference to China’s assertiveness that is threatening rules-based order in the Pacific region.India has been expressing similar sentiments besides at various multilateral for a in the backdrop of China's territorial claims in South China Sea region and growing unilateral actions across Indo-Pacific."...We will look to mature and deepen practical engagement with partners across the Indo-Pacific, particularly Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, India and China. We will also maintain global partnerships including with NATO to respond to threats which engage Australia’s interest in a stable rules-based global order," Canberra pointed out.“The Indian Ocean has become an important focus for Australian strategic policy in recent years. Vital trade and energy routes for Australia and many of our most important economic partners transit the Indian Ocean,” the Defence Paper noted. It may be pointed out that half of the world’s container traffic and one-third of bulk cargo traverses the Indian Ocean. Around 40 per cent of the world’s offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Over the next 20 years, the Indian Ocean will see a substantial increase in intra-regional maritime trade, including in energy, food and other natural resources.Meanwhile, expressing concern over internal situation in Pakistan, Australia admitted, “Over the next two decades, Pakistan is likely to continue to face a range of security challenges as it struggles with an internal insurgency. Following the historic elections in 2013, it will be important that Pakistan continues to strengthen its democratic institutions. The institutional strength of Pakistan’s armed forces will continue to play an important role in the Pakistani state.”Australians, according to the Defence Paper, will continue to be threatened by terrorism at home and abroad. “The spread of extremism and violence will be worsened by foreign terrorist fighters returning from conflicts to their countries of origin, including Australia and other countries in our region, and terrorist attacks by individuals inspired and radicalised by extremist messages. Over the next 20 years, it can be expected that terrorism will continue to evolve in ways which threaten Australia’s interests.”