Diplomatic Talks

Diplomatic talks, a type of international dispute resolution, involve negotiations and dialogue between representatives of sovereign states. Often, they aim to advance a country’s national interests through foreign policy. They also mediate between nations’ clashing narratives, resolve disputes and create space for peace.

Negotiations can be bilateral or multilateral. They may focus on issues such as trade, security, conflict management and territorial disputes. The most solemn outcome of a successful diplomatic negotiation is an international instrument, known as a treaty. Such instruments are enforceable under international law and analogous to contracts in civil law. They can be bilateral or multilateral, and they can cover the rights and responsibilities of individual countries or of international organizations, such as the United Nations.

A skilled diplomat must be able to create trust and appear honest and fair. He must be able to read the other party and understand how they perceive their own interests. He must be flexible, tenacious and creative in devising solutions to difficult problems. The ability to handle emotions such as impatience and anger is also important, though it must be carefully calibrated. The diplomat must have stamina, precision and clarity. He must be able to see through the other side’s arguments, while ensuring that his own interests are protected.

Diplomatic talks are not only about advancing interests and resolving conflict; they are also about building relationships between countries. To be effective, diplomats must know their counterparts well—where they came from, who influences them inside and outside of government, how they view their own country’s interests and what they hope to achieve at the negotiating table. This information can be gathered through interviews, intelligence gathering or espionage.