The rise of Diplomatic Fora and ‘Intelligence Diplomacy’

Source: This post has been created based on the article “C Raja Mohan writes: The rise of ‘intelligence diplomacy’ in a time of global security challenges” published in “Indian Express” on 20^th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

News: The article discusses the expanding Indian diplomatic footprint, and the steps being taken by it in this regard. It also highlights the importance of Intelligence Diplomacy in current times.

What reflects the expanding Indian diplomatic footprint?

1. “Discourse Diplomacy” of the Raisina Dialogue: The annual Raisina Dialogue, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs, brings together ministers, officials, scholars, and policy researchers from across the world to promote an India-centred global agenda.
2. “Naval Diplomacy” of the Milan exercises: The biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise (Milan) in the Bay of Bengal attracts naval leaders from far and wide for professional exchanges on maritime issues. 50 countries are expected to participate this year.
3. “Intelligence Diplomacy”: A gathering of top intelligence officials from like-minded countries on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue.

Why is the importance of these fora rising?

1) Rise in Interest in Geopolitical Affairs: There has been a growth in interest in international commercial, political, technological and military affairs. This has led to the growth of think tanks and media outlets discussing foreign and security outlets.
For example, the Aspen Security Forum, the Munich Security Conference, and the Shangri-La Dialogue focusing on American, European, and Asian security issues.

2) Conflict-ridden World: The deepening military crises worldwide, the issues of the global economic order and the return of great power rivalry have created new risks to global peace and prosperity. These fora facilitate valuable exchange of ideas.

What has India done in this regard?

1. The Foreign Office’s External Publicity (XP) Division and its embassies have pursued outreach activities.
2. Business chambers — CII and FICCI — have been at the forefront of creating networks.
3. Launched in 2016, Raisina Dialogue has become an important event for the global strategic community interested in India.
4. Annual Global Technology Summit organised by Carnegie India is a major international forum to discuss issues at the intersection of technology, policy, and geopolitics.
5. Pune International Centre’s annual Asia Economic Dialogue and the India Foundation’s Indian Ocean Dialogue.

Why is the role of intelligence rising?

The rise of international terrorism, the growth of cross-border criminal networks, renewed economic competition, the increasing need to protect intellectual property, the return of great power rivalry, and the impact of new technologies that are reshaping the domestic and global dynamics of an interconnected international society has led to an increase in the importance of intelligence.

What is Intelligence Diplomacy?

“Intelligence Diplomacy” is about sharing information with allied governments and their security agencies. For example, “Five Eyes”: Anglo-Saxon allies — USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

For India, too, “intelligence diplomacy” has become critical due to its security challenges. The regular exchanges between the Indian agencies and their counterparts from like-minded countries on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue underline India’s efforts in this regard.

Question for practice:

Why is the importance of diplomatic fora rising? What has India done in this regard?