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Australia’s military forces have often acted as effective agents of international policy. But while defence diplomacy has complemented Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade efforts, this has often been due to ad hoc coordination and personal initiative.
Dropping the autopilot: improving Australia defence diplomacy
About the author
Nicholas Floyd
Military strategy and diplomacy; Australian strategic and defence policy; Strategic interests in the Pacific; Human dimension of conflict
Despite recent improvements, Australia cannot risk allowing any of its military diplomacy to be on autopilot, especially given how strained its diplomatic resources are across the board. In this policy brief, Chief of Army Fellow Nick Floyd argues there is a need to understand what defence diplomacy can offer Australia’s international policy activities, and to provide clearer strategic guidance to align Department of Defence and wider diplomatic planning.
