Military Diplomacy: An Iranian Perspective

When it comes to diplomacy, it is generally believed that entry into this field is possible only by experienced diplomats and through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in most countries. But modern international relations, due to the increasing complexity and the variety of different issues, in the process of political dialogue and negotiations, need something more than what has been common before. Professional politicians must know all the tools of national power and use them as leverage to influence other countries to advance their interests. Military power is one of the most important components of national power and plays a vital role in pursuing the policies adopted by states. In fact, it hasbecome an inseparable part of diplomacy because of the many capabilities that military power creates for foreign policy. In this regard, military diplomacy is a way for presenting military power to achieve peaceful ends, avoid violence, and increase deterrence, which has become a tool for achieving foreign policy goals, especially among the great powers. This article aims to study the role of military diplomacy in the foreign policy of states. Studies show that "adopting such an approach increases the ability of countries to pursue foreign policy goals through increasing the scope of action,  providing a positive image, increasing the sphere of influence, shaping the security environment, expanding the operational environment and etc. "In light of the realization of these cases, we will see an increase in their power and roleplaying in international developments." Efforts have also been made to outline the prospects for Iran's military diplomacy.  

Keywords:

Military Diplomacy , Foreign Policy of States , Military Tools , Peacekeeping