Defence diplomacy refers to the strategic use of military resources—personnel, platforms, expertise, and operational reach—to build relationships, foster trust, and contribute to conflict prevention and regional stability.
NEW DELHI: Diplomacy is no longer the exclusive domain of suited envoys and negotiated communiqués. Increasingly, military uniforms are sharing the diplomatic stage—not to wield weapons, but to extend hands. This is the essence of defence diplomacy—the peaceful application of military tools to further a nation’s strategic interests. In India’s case, defence diplomacy has emerged as a critical vector of foreign policy, simultaneously strengthening international partnerships and enhancing its security posture.
WHAT IS DEFENCE DIPLOMACY?
Defence diplomacy refers to the strategic use of military resources—personnel, platforms, expertise, and operational reach—to build relationships, foster trust, and contribute to conflict prevention and regional stability. This encompasses everything from bilateral military exchanges and joint exercises to high-level defence dialogues, training programs, confidence-building measures, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping operations.
Unlike traditional defence posturing, which is often associated with deterrence or coercion, defence diplomacy operates in a different register. It projects reassurance rather than aggression, promotes transparency rather than secrecy, and privileges cooperation over confrontation.
For India—a country with a unique geopolitical location, complex regional dynamics, and aspirations for global leadership—this toolkit is not merely ornamental. It is indispensable.
WHY INDIA NEEDS DEFENCE DIPLOMACY
India’s defence diplomacy serves multiple national objectives:
Securing the Neighbourhood: Surrounded by nuclear rivals, fragile democracies, and an expansive maritime domain, India’s ability to act as a net security provider in South Asia and the Indian Ocean hinges on close cooperation with its neighbours.
Enhancing Strategic Ties: From Malabar to Yudh Abhyas, military exercises with powers like the U.S., France, Australia, and Japan underscore India’s rising strategic value in an era defined by Indo-Pacific contestations.
Modernising the Armed Forces: Defence diplomacy provides access to cutting-edge military technology, joint R&D, and training modules, crucial for India’s journey toward a modern, self-reliant military-industrial ecosystem.
Global Recognition and Responsibility: India’s robust participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions enhances its international profile, giving New Delhi the credibility to argue for structural reforms in global governance platforms like the UNSC.
Countering Non-Traditional Threats: In a world increasingly shaped by cyber warfare, terrorism, and grey-zone conflicts, defence diplomacy facilitates collective threat assessment, intelligence-sharing, and coordinated action.
INDIAN ARMY: AT THE FRONTLINES OF DEFENCE DIPLOMACY
While all three services contribute to India’s defence diplomacy, the Indian Army plays a particularly pivotal role. Its engagements span continents, demonstrating a remarkable blend of operational capability and soft power projection.
1. UN Peacekeeping: Boots on the Ground, Credibility in the Sky: India is among the largest troop contributors to United Nations Peacekeeping Forces. With over 5,200 personnel deployed across nine missions, the Indian Army’s contribution is both strategic and symbolic.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, India’s contingent under MONUSCO has made global headlines—not just for its military operations but for its humanitarian outreach. Major Radhika Sen, for example, won international acclaim for her community engagement efforts in conflict zones.
In South Sudan, Indian Army engineers and doctors under UNMISS are involved in rebuilding war-torn infrastructure and providing essential medical care. In Lebanon, Golan Heights, and Abyei, India has deployed everything from logistics battalions to all-women platoons, pushing the envelope on gender parity in peace operations.
2. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the Army as First Responder: India’s soft power diplomacy shines through its rapid response to natural disasters across the region. Operations like Maitri (Nepal, 2015), Cyclone Roanu (Sri Lanka, 2016), Flood Relief (Madagascar, 2020), and Operation Dost (Turkey, 2023) illustrate how military logistics, medical aid, and engineering prowess can win hearts and forge alliances far more effectively than traditional diplomacy ever could.
India has also institutionalised its commitment through multilateral HADR exercises such as PANEX-21 (with BIMSTEC), SMANVAY-22 (with ASEAN), and Tiger Triumph-2024 (with the United States Navy and Marine Corps), deepening operational interoperability with key partners.
3. Joint Exercises: Drills That Define Diplomacy: The Indian Army participates in 39 joint exercises annually, involving a diverse array of countries—from old allies like France and Russia to newer partners like Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. Bilateral exercises are currently being negotiated with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Cambodia—an indication of India’s growing diplomatic footprint beyond its immediate neighbourhood.
These engagements serve multiple purposes: enhancing tactical interoperability, signalling strategic intent, and deepening political trust.
4. Defence Wings and Global Presence: Institutionalising Military Diplomacy: As part of a strategic reorganisation, India has expanded its network of Defence Attaché offices—known as Defence Wings—from 45 to 52. New wings were opened in Poland and Algeria (June 2024), and in Ethiopia and Mozambique (October 2024). Four more are in the pipeline. These military envoys play a critical role in translating New Delhi’s foreign policy into actionable defence cooperation on the ground.
Today, India engages in active defence cooperation with 118 countries, a dramatic leap from the relatively narrow focus of previous decades. This wide net enables India to build influence even in regions where it has limited economic or political leverage.
A DIPLOMATIC DOCTRINE ROOTED IN CIVILISATIONAL ETHOS
India’s defence diplomacy is not an exercise in latent militarism. On the contrary, it flows from a civilisational philosophy that prioritises peaceful coexistence. Guided by the ancient maxim Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“the world is one family”—India’s military diplomacy seeks to foster trust, not tension.
The Indian Army’s initiatives are therefore not framed by hegemonic ambitions but by a cooperative ethos: whether it is helping rebuild infrastructure in Africa, ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, or enhancing interoperability with friendly nations. Respect for sovereignty, non-interventionism, and a preference for multilateralism remain core tenets.
So, what’s next?
As India’s global profile rises, the role of the Indian Army in shaping that ascent will only grow. Defence diplomacy offers a platform where the hard edge of national security and the soft touch of international cooperation converge.
It is no longer enough for India to simply defend its borders. In an era of transnational threats and shifting alliances, India must also defend its interests globally—through trust-building, interoperability, humanitarian outreach, and peacekeeping. And increasingly, it is the Indian Army that is leading this diplomatic march.
In the battle for influence in the 21st century, military uniforms may not replace diplomats, but they will certainly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.
* Ashish Singh is an award-winning senior journalist with over 18 years of experience in defence & strategic affairs.