FEW POINTS ON MILITARY DIPLOMACY

1. What is Military Diplomacy? How can it be justified in light of Formal Diplomacy?

-Diplomacy is an Element of National Power referred as one of the tools used by a country to
influence other countries and the institutions to achieve its objectives. It is an important means
by which countries pursue their national interests. It is a formal form of national diplomacy
which is guided by the foreign policy.

-Foreign policy is what you do and diplomacy is how to do it. It is one of the means to achieve
the objective. -Military diplomacy is an important element of foreign policy of a nation. It is one
of major components of formal diplomacy. It is a tool to develop and to maintain the relation
and cooperation between the nations and armed forces.

-It is a pursuit of foreign policy objective through peaceful employment of military resources.

-Military diplomacy is a set of non-combat activities.

-Defense diplomacy,” describes all security-related diplomacy, going beyond the purely military.
It also includes the activities of civilian defence officials

Importance of Military Diplomacy

-In many cases even, if relation of two countries ruined military relation had remained intact ,ie,
the relation between Nepali army and Indian army during the time of Indian blockade 2015.

-It is more effective because, military officers' worldwide share common culture, professional
approach and experiences.

-Military officers clearly understand the potential danger or the threat to national security. They
understand the ways to achieve the national interest.

-Due to common culture and understanding they have easy and effective approach to develop
the understanding. The burning example is Nepal Army's effort to ease the blockade of India in
2015.

-it helps to protect and promote the national interest.

2. What are the fundamental factors crucial for Military Diplomacy of Nepal?

Fundamentals or basic considerations of military diplomacy of Nepal are:

-It has to be based on national interest and foreign policy.

-Balance relations and equi-proximity with both the neighbours India and China including
armed forces of both the countries.

-Balance relations with other friendly countries and armed forces.

-Neutrality and balanced conduct on any regional ad international issues.

-Guided by defence and military policy of Nepal.

-Acting based on the policies and guidelines of legally formed govt.

-Guided by UN charter and mandates in UN missions.

-Credibility and clarity in action.

3. Important events of Military Diplomacy of Nepal which set the landmarks /milestones
for enhancing good foreign relations.

Some important Events

-NA's contribution in World Wars.

-NA's support to British govt to suppress the sepoy mutiny in 1857-58. It was a very wise step
taken by then PM Jung Bahadur Rana in Nepal's military history. It had multi dimensional
benefits to Nepal.

-The tradition of Conferment the rank of Honorary General to chiefs of both India and Nepal.

-Role played to resolve the blockade imposed by India in 2015.

-The latest visit of Indian CoAS Gen Narvane amid the adverse bilateral relation with India.

-Exchange of trainings, exercises, expeditions etc.

-Defence Dialogue, seminar, Defence Cooperaion, Meetings etc.

-Mutual cooperation during tsunami 2004.

-Contributions to global Peace keeping efforts.

4. Does a small country like Nepal need such an active Military Diplomacy?

-Generally, it is said that military diplomacy is a tool of powerful country, but in practice, it has
been more important for small countries and has been an effective tool for small countries like
Nepal.
-Nepal has been closely involved in global issues since world war time. During the time of Rana
dynasty (1846-1951) Nepal had established very cordial relation with British govt. Nepali Army
had helped the British India to suppress the Sepoy Mutiny in India in 1857-58.

-Nepal has been one of the major troops contributing countries in UN PKO since 1958.

-Traditionally, diplomacy is soft power and military is the hard power. But the military also
could the soft power through military diplomacy. Because the countries like Nepal, military is
less likely to military as hard power to pursue its national interests due to imbalance of military
strength.

-It is important for institutional development also.

5. How should the NA conduct its military diplomacy so that its neighbors do not
suspicious of foreign involvement?

-Nepal positioning between two large and dominant powers and very asymmetric in armed
forces and in many other aspects, therefore relation with neighbors is very sensitive issues and
maintenance of equi-proximity is very imortant.

-Should not be compromised the fundamentals or basic considerations of military diplomacy.

-Balance relation is most important. Hence, their major national concerns have to kept in mind
and respected without compromising our national interest.

-Trust and the confidence of both the neighbor has to be maintained. Long term effect has to
be well considered.

-Should not be influenced by the political affiliation and activities. As maintained so far, NA has
to put its efforts to maintain good relation with its neighbors even if the government level
relation might have been ruied.

6. What are the Media Perspective of Military Diplomacy? Mention some pros and cons in
case of Nepal.

-Media also an important instrument of foreign relations and international negations. In

diplomacy, state and non-state actors also use media to influence in shaping of public opinion
in bilateral and international issues.

-In present days role of media has been greatly expanded, because of globalization of electronic
communication and role of IT. Mass media has been the central source of info in the global
environment for all the issues.
-In diplomacy media is used to communicate message to actors to promote conflict resolution.

-In Media Broker Diplomacy, journalists also used temporarily assume the role of diplomat
serves as a mediator. It is a new model.

Pros

-Effective in shaping of public opinion.

-Prepares favorable atmosphere for international negotiations.

-Wide area of coverage.

-Speedy effect of mass media.

-Creates favorable image

-Importance of IT and digital system communication.

Cons

-Widely spread and complex

-Lack of appropriate analysis.

-Creates confusion.

-in some cases, complicates the issues.

Few examples of use of media:

- Role of CNN, CGTN, BBC etc.

- Use of CNN in Gulf War
- Use in Cold war
- In other bilateral conflicts.

7. How can media, being a tool for the formal diplomacy to military diplomacy?

-Media has been playing an important role in formal or military diplomacy in the world in many
past vents. In present context, it has been more important tool in formal or the military
diplomacy, because:

-It helps in shaping the public opinion on diplomatic activities and on specific issue.

-It it has speedy and wide area coverage to communicate the message or the intent.
 -Present development of IT and digitization has further expanded its role in all activities
including diplomacy.

-The role played during gulf war is one of the major examples in international arena. In
our case, a simple example we can seen how Indian media played the role during time
when Nepal had issued the updated map of Nepal this year.

8. How can you assess the present situation of military diplomacy of Nepal?

-Though Nepal is a small country and very asymmetric in military strength and aspects, NA is
playing active and effective role to promote its national interest through military diplomacy.

-NA has been successful to maintain cordial relations with neighbors; even the govt has adverse
relation. The latest example is the visit of Indian CoAS Gen Narvane's last visit which was
successfully conducted amid adverse bilateral relation with India. There are many examples like
the role NA played during the undeclared Indian blockade in 2015.

- military support by to British India in sepoy mutiny in 1857-58, was the dawn or the start point
of military diplomacy of Nepal by which Nepal had established good relation with British govt. It
was wise decision of then govt, specially then PM Jung Bahadur Rana, because:

- Considering the support , British govt did not interfere Nepal's internal issues.

-The British govt had extended the full sovereignty to Nepalese rulers and returned;
Banke, Brdiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur area to Nepal.

- PM Jung Bahadur Rana himself had led 8000 troops in Gorakhpur and Lucknow. NA had
supported British forces in world wars.

- Military is not always for the violent act, it is to prevent the violet in many cases.

9. How logical is to talk about resizing and democratizing of NA?

-Basic norms of democracy are:

-Rule of law

-Social Justice

-Inclusiveness

-Equality before the law

-Freedom of speech
 -Democratic decision making

-Democratization of armed forces is related to the civilian control of armed forces. It is also the
relation between armed forces and the civilian govt.

-Fundamental aspects are; rule of law, inclusiveness and transparency. Nepali Army is a national
army and already democratic in nature. All interested Nepali have right to join Nepali army;
however need to meet the criteria set to be enrolled into it. Nepali Army is:

-Inclusive

-Transparent in its action.

-Functioning as constitutional provisions and rule of law.

-It accepts civil supremacy and functions under legally constituted govt.

Logics on Resizing of NA

-Resizing should be based on concept of right sizing of the armed forces. It depends on:

-Role and responsibility of army which includes the traditional and non-traditional role.

-Traditional and the non-traditional threats to the country.

-Guidelines given by the national security policy.

-Strength and effectiveness of other security forces of the country.

THE END