Diplomatic talks are complex, often lengthy, negotiations between governments about matters of national interest, such as trade, military relations, terrorism and climate change. Generally, ambassadors and other representatives of their home countries lead the negotiations with foreign counterparts. The objective is to advance the nation’s interests and may involve compromise – not necessarily reaching agreement, but advancing the goals of an ambassador’s charge in accordance with diplomatic practice and protocol.
Good diplomats truly listen to their foreign colleagues and understand where they are coming from. They take great care in their choice of words and etiquette, avoiding sarcasm and condescension in favor of calm and thoughtful communication. They learn as much about their interlocutors as possible, including where they are from, how they influenced inside and outside their government and how they view their national interests and threats.
In some cases, the ultimate result of a diplomatic negotiation is embodied in an international instrument, the most solemn of which is a treaty. These can be bilateral or multilateral; they may include a wide variety of provisions, from prolonging an existing agreement to redistributing benefits, transferring authority and even ending hostilities.
In the most difficult cases, diplomats may employ coercive techniques to keep negotiations moving, such as economic sanctions or the threat of military action. They also may rely on back channels, informal communications that circumvent the need to meet preconditions for discussion. Skillful diplomatic communication helps the global system function smoothly despite a host of problems, from small beef disagreements to nuclear brinkmanship.