%u201CUnless%20India%20stands%20up%20to%20the%20world%2C%20no%20one%20will%20respect%20us%3B%20In%20this%20world%2C%20fear%20has%20no%20place.%20Only%20strength%20respects%20strength%u201D%3A%20Dr%20APJ%20Abdul%20Kalam

%3Cstrong%3EIntroduction%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3E

The%20global%20security%20fragility%20as%20well%20as%20the%20enormity%20and%20dynamics%20of%20threats%20reinforces%20the%20role%20and%20importance%20of%20the%20armed%20forces%20as%20an%20instrument%20of%20defence%20diplomacy.%20Today%20unlike%20the%20past%20wherein%20there%20was%20a%20strong%20perception%20that%20diplomacy%20is%20the%20sole%20preserve%20of%20diplomats%2C%20defence%20and%20diplomacy%20are%20two%20sides%20of%20the%20same%20coin%20in%20the%20pursuance%20of%20security%20interests.%20John%20F%20Kennedy%20wisely%20said%2C%20%u201CDiplomacy%20and%20defence%20are%20not%20substitutes%20for%20one%20another%2C%20either%20alone%20would%20fail.%22

Defence%20diplomacy%20thus%20plays%20an%20important%20role%20in%20shaping%20and%20implementing%20the%20security%20policy%20of%20a%20country.%20It%20can%20provide%20opportunities%2C%20security%20and%20strength%20which%20are%20the%20key%20benefits%20that%20consolidate%20national%20power.%20As%20such%20it%20is%20the%20peaceful%20%28non-confrontational%29%20use%20of%20armed%20forces%20and%20related%20infrastructure%20%28primarily%20defence%20ministries%29%20as%20a%20foreign%20policy%20and%20security%20tool%20to%20build%20trust%2C%20crises/conflict%20prevention%20and%20conflict%20resolution.%20The%20main%20objective%20of%20defence%20diplomacy%20remains%20complementing%20and%20implementing%20the%20state%20security%20policy%2C%20and%20its%20task%20to%20create%20stable%2C%20long-term%20global%20strategic%20security%20relationship.

%3Cstrong%3EDefence%20Diplomacy%20Payoffs%3C/strong%3E

Defence%20diplomacy%20has%20multiple%20payoffs%20to%20mould%20the%20strategic%20thinking%20and%20institutions%20of%20another%20country%20in%20a%20manner%20that%20is%20amenable%20to%20the%20practitioners.%20Defence%20diplomacy%20can%20thus%3A

1%29%20%3Cstrong%3EReduce%20tensions%20and%20reduce%20crisis%3C/strong%3E%u2014that%20is%2C%20it%20can%20take%20the%20heat%20out%20of%20the%20points%20of%20friction%20and%20keep%20the%20crisis%20from%20escalating.

2%29%20%3Cstrong%3EImprove%20information%20flows%3C/strong%3E%20and%20enhance%20mutual%20understanding%20of%20states%27%20capabilities%2C%20interests%2C%20and%20where%20their%20readiness%20lies.

%3Cstrong%3E3%29%20Improve%20the%20strategic%20environment%3C/strong%3E%20by%20building%20high-level%20trust%20and%20a%20sense%20of%20common%20cause%20through%20regular%20dialogue%20and%20the%20development%20of%20personal%20links%20among%20senior%20defence%20officials.

%3Cstrong%3E4%29%20Shape%20and%20implement%20the%20state%20security%20policy%2C%3C/strong%3E%20and%20the%20task%2C%20to%20create%20stable%2C%20long-term%20relations%20and%20cooperation%20to%20achieve%20common%20goals.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/indias-security-challenges-how-to-build-a-strong-military-and-learn-from-past-mistakes%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndia%27s%20security%20challenges%3A%20How%20to%20build%20a%20strong%20military%20and%20learn%20from%20past%20mistakes%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

%3Cstrong%3EIndian%20Experience%20and%20Limitations%3C/strong%3E

India%20has%20been%20under-leveraging%20its%20defence%20diplomacy%20potential%20to%20a%20large%20extent.%20The%20Indian%20experience%20since%20the%20independence%20of%20optimising%20defence%20has%20traditionally%20been%20both%20chary%20and%20tardy%20hounded%20by%20political%20neglect%20and%20bureaucratic%20inertia.%20However%2C%20in%20the%20recent%20past%20there%20India%u2019s%20military%20engagement%20with%20the%20nations%20has%20steadily%20expanded%20shedding%20the%20cloak%20of%20military%20isolation.%20Yet%20the%20depth%20and%20scope%20of%20defence%20diplomacy%20require%20a%20de%20novo%20outlook%20to%20strengthen%20the%20structures%2C%20enhance%20engagements%20and%20above%20all%20change%20mindsets.%20Integrating%20defence%20diplomacy%20as%20a%20potent%20tool%20into%20the%20MEA%20matrix%20would%20thus%20be%20a%20useful%20exercise%20to%20achieve%20the%20full%20potential%20of%20the%20Indian%20military%u2019s%20diplomatic%20prowess.

Limitations%3A%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3E1%29%20The%20over-centralised%20approach%20of%20India%u2019s%20bureaucracy%2C%20the%20Ministry%20of%20External%20Affairs%20%28MEA%29%2C%20and%20a%20convoluted%20and%20cumbersome%20decisionmaking%20process.%3C/strong%3E%20Lack%20of%20a%20definite%20structure%20and%20a%20road%20map%20for%20engaging%20other%20countries%20makes%20matters%20worse.%20Defence%20cooperation%20flows%20from%20the%20foreign%20policy%20of%20the%20nation.%20However%2C%20the%20broad%20contours%20of%20the%20policy%20framework%20for%20defence%20cooperation%20are%20not%20spelt%20out%20by%20MEA/MoD%20in%20the%20form%20of%20short%20and%20long-term%20objectives%20which%20must%20be%20country-specific.%20Thus%2C%20defence%20cooperation%20is%20planned%20and%20executed%20by%20each%20service%20according%20to%20its%20understanding%20and%20priorities%2C%20mostly%20at%20its%20own%20pace.%20%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3E2%29%20Lack%20of%20a%20Single%20Point%20Contact%3C/strong%3E.%20There%20are%20multiple%20agencies%20within%20service%20headquarters%2C%20MoD%2C%20MEA%20with%20the%20absence%20of%20a%20single%20point%20of%20contact%20for%20defence%20cooperation.%20Moreover%2C%20ad%20hoc%20arrangements%20also%20create%20communication%20gaps%20amongst%20the%20Armed%20Forces.%20Ironically%20the%20DoD%20still%20handles%20policy%20of%20defence%20diplomacy%20which%20must%20be%20now%20with%20DMA.%20In%20the%20absence%20of%20a%20nodal%20agency%20for%20Defence%20Cooperation%2C%20follow%20up%20action%20and%20accountability%20is%20often%20lacking.%20This%20often%20leads%20to%20loss%20of%20credibility%20and%20conveys%20lack%20of%20seriousness.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3E3%29%20Inherent%20contradictions%20exist%20in%20the%20planning%20and%20execution%20of%20defence%20diplomacy.%3C/strong%3E%20Funding%20is%20by%20MEA%20and%20execution%20by%20MoD.%20There%20is%20a%20need%20to%20review%20this%20policy%20and%20make%20funding%20of%20defence%20cooperation%20activities%20integral%20to%20MoD.%20MoD%20could%20fund%20military%20training%20under%20the%20Indian%20Technical%20and%20Economic%20Cooperation%20%28ITEC%29%20Programme.%20Rules%20regarding%20the%20spending%20of%20ITEC%20funds%20also%20need%20a%20review.%20Archaic%20distinctions%20between%20advanced%20and%20developing%20countries%20could%20be%20abolished%20to%20start%20with.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/dealing-with-china-and-pakistans-threat-to-indias-national-security%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EDealing%20with%20China%20and%20Pakistan%27s%20threat%20to%20India%27s%20national%20security%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

%3Cstrong%3ERecommendations%3C/strong%3E

Based%20on%20the%20analysis%20of%20the%20opportunities%20and%20challenges%2C%20the%20following%20recommendations%20are%20made%20towards%20arriving%20at%20a%20well-defined%20policy%20of%20Defence%20Diplomacy%20to%20seamlessly%20supplement%20India%u2019s%20Foreign%20Policy%20objectives.

%3Cstrong%3E1%29%20Organisational%20and%20Functional%20Changes%3C/strong%3E.%20A%20set%20of%20country-specific%20defence%20diplomacy%20objectives%20by%20MoD%20based%20on%20the%20overall%20National%20Security%20Strategy%20and%20National%20Foreign%20Policy%20must%20be%20evolved%2C%20disseminated%20and%20reviewed%20periodically.%20This%20should%20lead%20to%20the%20evolution%20of%20Policy%20framework%20for%20the%20Armed%20Forces%20by%20the%20Department%20of%20Military%20Affairs%20%28DMA%29%20and%20Service%20headquarters.%20Enhanced%20coordination%20between%20MoD/%20MEA%20/%20MoF%20with%20cross%20staffing%20of%20Armed%20forces%20officers%20both%20in%20MoD%20and%20MEA%20to%20build%20organic%20linkages%20is%20critical.%20Further%2C%20the%20delineation%20of%20roles%20and%20responsibilities%20between%20DoD%20and%20DMA%3B%20and%20further%20between%20DMA/%20Service%20Headquarters%20is%20required.%20Creation%20of%20a%20separate%20budget%20head%20for%20defence%20diplomacy%20aligned%20with%20country-specific%20objectives%20duly%20supported%20with%20streamlining%20of%20delegated%20financial%20approvals%20to%20reduce%20multiplicity%20is%20essential.%20The%20overall%20policy%2C%20planning%2C%20monitoring%20and%20evaluation%20must%20shift%20from%20DoD%20to%20DMA.

%3Cstrong%3E2%29%20Defence%20Attaches%20and%20Liaison%20Officers%3C/strong%3E.%20Stringent%20selection%20on%20merit%20with%20tenure%20stability%20and%20continuity%20regarding%20country/%20geographic%20region%20for%20optimizing%20capability%20is%20essential.%20Empowerment%20of%20DAs%20before%20induction%20in%20terms%20of%20country%20defence%20diplomacy%20objectives%20-%20ends%2C%20ways%20and%20means%20would%20result%20in%20focus.%20Incentivising%20language%20expertise%20and%20proliferation%20of%20foreign%20language%20courses%20in%20the%20training%20curriculum%20at%20all%20levels%20is%20a%20shortcoming%20which%20merits%20attention.%20Creation%20of%20a%20dedicated%20pool%20of%20area%20and%20language%20experts%20is%20the%20need%20for%20focus%20and%20specialization%20in%20defence%20diplomacy%20like%20the%20MEA.%20They%20can%20then%20be%20empowered%20by%20the%20conduct%20of%20Regional%20Conference%20and%20Annual%20Conclave%20for%20DAs%20for%20information%20sharing%20and%20policy%20orientation.%20Further%20to%20ensure%20accountability%20and%20responsibility%20the%20need%20is%20to%20set%20specific%20targets%20for%20DAs%20during%20their%20tenure.

%3Cstrong%3E3%29%20Agreements%3C/strong%3E.%20Strategic%20partnerships/%20MoUs%20with%20relevant%20countries.%20Information%2C%20logistics%2C%20port%20calls%2C%20etc%20are%20a%20critical%20facet%20of%20defence%20diplomacy.%20However%2C%20these%20need%20to%20be%20financially%20supported%20for%20honouring%20the%20MoU%20and%20exploitation%20of%20all%20clauses%20of%20agreements.

%3Cstrong%3E4%29%20Visits%20and%20Personnel%20Exchange%20Programs%3C/strong%3E.%20Annual%20visits/exchange%20programs%20by%20junior%2C%20middle%20and%20senior-level%20military%20ranks%20are%20important%20to%20have%20a%20better%20understanding%2C%20as%20well%20as%20promote%20goodwill%20within%20military%20communities%20of%20countries.%20Possibly%20due%20to%20the%20financial%20crunch%2C%20this%20aspect%20has%20taken%20a%20back%20seat%20in%20recent%20times.

%3Cstrong%3E5%29%20Joint%20Exercises%20and%20Training%3C/strong%3E.%20There%20is%20a%20need%20to%20increase%20joint%20exercises%20with%20neighbouring%20countries%20as%20well%20as%20advanced%20countries%20with%20a%20higher%20level%20of%20complexity%20to%20increase%20interoperability%20and%20confidence.%20India%20must%20expand%20training%20capacity%20by%20creating%20infrastructure%20and%20capacities%20in%20existing%20training%20establishments%20to%20cater%20to%20the%20demands%20of%20friendly%20foreign%20countries%20%28FFC%29%20with%20reciprocity.%20A%20staring%20void%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20Indian%20National%20University%20even%20after%20its%20foundation%20stone%20was%20laid%20due%20to%20petty%20politics%20and%20short-sighted%20financial%20outlook.%20Streamlining%20of%20processes%20for%20allocation%20of%20courses%20and%20expanding%20slots%20and%20funding%20must%20find%20space.

%3Cstrong%3E6%29%20Defence%20Diplomacy%20%26amp%3B%20Atmanirbhar%3C/strong%3E.%20The%20future%20of%20Atmanirbhar%20lies%20in%20transiting%20from%20an%20arms%20import%20dependency%20to%20defence%20self-sufficiency%20cum%20self-reliance%20to%20arms%20export%20orientation.%20While%20periodically%20the%20MoD%20sets%20optimistic%20targets%20of%20export%2C%20presently%20from%200.5%20billion%20dollars%20to%205%20billion%20dollars%20by%202025%2C%20they%20often%20overlook%20the%20potential%20of%20defence%20diplomacy%20to%20correct%20the%20skewed%20defence%20trade%20balance.%20Defence%20Attach%E9%u2019s%20and%20defence%20delegation%20of%20Indian%20Industry%20along%20with%20MoD%20representatives%20including%20uniformed%20lot/veterans%20could%20give%20a%20fillip%20to%20this%20effort%20and%20make%20it%20a%20reality.%20Similarly%20acquisition%20of%20defence%20equipment%20and%20technologies%20where%20necessary%20must%20have%20the%20Defence%20Attach%E9%u2019s%20interface.

%3Cstrong%3E7%29%20Think%20Tanks%20and%20Academia%3C/strong%3E.%20Think%20Tanks%20and%20Track%202%20diplomacy%20are%20important%20links%20to%20defence%20diplomacy%20which%20require%20strengthening%20by%20providing%20resources%20and%20using%20their%20expertise.%20They%20must%20organize%20capsules%20and%20dialogues%20on%20strategic%20issues%20with%20participation%20from%20Indian%20Armed%20Forces%2C%20policymakers%20from%20relevant%20ministries%20and%20counterparts%20from%20FFCs.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/global-geopolitical-dilemmas-and-indias-leadership-role-in-2021%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EGlobal%20geopolitical%20dilemmas%20and%20India%27s%20leadership%20role%20in%202021%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

%3Cstrong%3EConclusion%3C/strong%3E

On%20the%20regional%20and%20global%20scenario%2C%20India%20is%20engaging%20in%20expanding%20its%20politicostrategic%20influence%2C%20both%20with%20traditional%20partners%20and%20with%20potential%20ones.%20This%20is%20vital%20in%20the%20new%20world%20order%20that%20is%20characterised%20by%20ever-changing%20poles%20of%20influence%20and%20requires%20a%20skill%20set%20essential%20for%20survival%20amongst%20them%20all.%20Tools%20of%20statecraft%20such%20as%20diplomacy%20and%20defence%20and%20offence%20represent%20alternative%20courses%20of%20action.%20The%20use%20of%20defence%20diplomacy%20combines%20the%20advantages%20of%20the%20first%20two%20and%20prevents%20the%20third%2C%20it%20is%20an%20ideal%20tool%20to%20promote%20India%u2019s%20national%20interests.%20Defence%20diplomacy%20can%20thus%20be%20a%20useful%20tool%20as%20it%20acknowledges%20the%20primacy%20of%20state%20interests%2C%20the%20reality%20of%20territorial%20defence%20and%20the%20inevitability%20of%20competition%20between%20nations.%20It%20is%20in%20India%u2019s%20interest%20to%20maximise%20returns%20on%20its%20investments%20in%20strategic%20security%20by%20maintaining%20its%20successful%20bilateral%20and%20multilateral%20relationships%20and%20by%20salvaging%20others.%20Defence%20cooperation%20is%20a%20suitable%20course%20of%20action%20in%20both%20cases.

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Defence%22%20data-user-id%3D%22ihNKmXrAhTKN%22%20href%3D%22/topic/defence%22%3E%23Defence%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Diplomacy%22%20data-user-id%3D%22G8IwDUiIFaNN%22%20href%3D%22/topic/diplomacy%22%3E%23Diplomacy%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B

%26nbsp%3B