Page 173 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
The Diplomatic Role

Naval diplomacy entails the use of naval forces in support of foreign policy
objectives to build ‘bridges of friendship’ and strengthen international
cooperation on one hand and to signal capability and intent to deter
potential adversaries on the other. The larger purpose of the Navy’s
diplomatic role is to favourably shape the maritime environment in
the furtherance of national interests, in consonance with the foreign
policy and national security objectives. Navies inherently lean towards
performing a diplomatic role on account of two main characteristics.
The first is their status as comprehensive instruments of a country’s
sovereign power, whereupon their very presence in or off a certain area
signals the nation’s political intent and commitment to pursue national
interests in that region. Hence, their presence or absence can be
calibrated to send a political message to potential friends and foes alike.
The second characteristic facilitating the Navy’s diplomatic role lies in
the attributes of maritime forces, including access, mobility, sustenance,
reach, flexibility and versatility. These combine to offer a variety of tools
for furthering national interests and pursuing foreign policy goals. Naval
forces can be readily deployed; they can perform multiple roles and tasks
that can be calibrated in visibility and intensity as per the requirements;
and they can just as easily and rapidly be withdrawn, to send a counter-
signal.

Track 2 Diplomacy

Interaction among people from advisory groups or nations, intended to
explore issues and solutions in an informal and unofficial basis. Typically,
this takes the form of academic conferences in which, military officers,
government officials and academics participate as private individual
rather than as official representatives. However, Track 1.5 Diplomacy
is more prominent in problem solving activities aimed at building
relationship and encouraging new thinking that can re-enforced the
official process.

154 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea