The Relationship between Defense Diplomacy and Foreign Policy(A Theoretical Approach and a Policymaking Mechanism)

Defence policy is a concept in the form of power which, by relying on the capacity of hard- and soft power within the framework of the convergence between foreign policy and defence policy, provides deterrence without using hard equipments, and paves the way for uprading the objectives underlying in defense and military policies. In other words, defense diplomacy is peaceful use of resources in the defense field for achieving positive outputs in developing bilateral and multilateral relations with the outside world. As a part of this process, defense diplomacy tries, as an auxiliary element of foreign policy, to achieve the country’s supreme objectives. This research plans to address the relationship between foreign policy and defense policy in relation to soft power, explain the role of defense diplomacy in improving deterrent defense power, delineate the functions arising from that relationship in international relations on the basis of three indices, namely “increasing the action capacity”, “increasing adaptation and adaptability”, and “increasing effectiveness and efficiency”, all by using analytical-descriptive methodolgy, and finally present a policymaking mechanism for setting policies in defense diplomacy on the strength of the relationship between these two concepts within a declared and practical policy of a political regime.