The naval force of a nation-state is a very important fact. Naval forces or navies play a major role in the national security of a nation-state. National security is a very important part of nation-states to protect their citizens from threats from other nations. So, the main purpose of naval forces is the military defense of nation-states. The navy expands its military power onto the seas.
The main function of the navies of nation-states is to achieve sea control, and they are very necessary in wartime to protect the country from enemies. A large strong navy consists of aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates and gunboats. They provide various types of support. In addition, naval forces play an important role in the international relations of nation-states. Navies with strong ocean patrol ships and the higher categories of strong warships have an important position in the full international ocean and sea areas and in the partly international sea areas of the exclusive economic zone.
It is also important that navies have a stable presence on high seas outside foreign EEZs because land armies and air forces couldn't get that stable presence in international areas like navies. It is a great opportunity for them. Therefore, naval forces are very important to international relations or diplomacy because of the stable presence of naval forces in international areas. In addition, foreign policy follows the international national interests of external national security against foreign threats through diplomacy. Navies support both foreign policy and diplomacy in various ways.
Navies use to influence and threaten the behavior of other nations during times of peace. For example, in the US Navy, there are some tactics used for diplomatic efforts. They are port calls, transits, freedom of navigation operations, combat capability demonstrations, force-level changes, and fleet architect changes.
Port calls: The USS Carl Vinson sailed into Da Nang, Vietnam, and it was the first US carrier to visit Vietnam after they combated with communist forces a few decades ago.
Transits: The USS Curtis Wilbur proceeded through the Taiwan Strait to support Taiwan.
Force-level changes: NATO ships improved their presence in the Black Sea to respond to Russian operations.
Coercive diplomacy is the first use of naval forces in diplomacy. Coercive diplomacy plays a prominent role in navies in support of foreign policy. The mobility, flexibility, and combat potential of navies are very essential coercive instruments of foreign policy. Navies can support political objectives through coercive naval diplomacy. Coercive diplomacy means forcing enemies to do things to neutralize huge threats to themselves, e.g., the sea-borne terrorist infiltration from Pakistan into northwestern India is a huge threat and influence to the national security and non-traditional national maritime security of India.
Compellence diplomacy is the second important use of naval forces in diplomacy. Compellence diplomacy can force enemies to do things to neutralize huge threats, e.g., Indian compellence diplomacy is more important and it can use the Indian navy as a military instrument to force Pakistan to do things it wants.
Deterrence diplomacy is also an important form of coercive diplomacy. It uses to prevent an enemy from carrying out a threat or an influence. This kind of coercive diplomacy can be seen in the political situation between China and the United States over the Taiwan island. In this situation, China's coast in the western Pacific shows deterrence diplomacy and the use of navies. In this situation, China wanted to invade Taiwan and considered Taiwan as a part of China, but the United States uses its military power to protect Taiwan. The United States and China conducted deterrence diplomacy over Taiwan. The US Navy can be used to support deterrence diplomacy. The US Navy Pacific Fleet operations in the Pacific are more important, and it can send one or more powerful aircraft carrier battle groups to support US deterrence diplomacy to prevent China from invading Taiwan. China's powerful naval anti-ship missile weapon called 'carrier-killer missile' gives China the capability to conduct a strong deterrence diplomatic campaign against the United States to stop helping Taiwan.
Cooperative diplomacy is the fourth important use of naval forces in diplomacy. It is important for nation-states to maintain alliances with other nation-states. This kind of diplomacy is essential and important to the United States to maintain alliances with Japan and Australia. In the Pacific, the United States is allied with Japan and Australia. The navies of nation-states are very important to aid their cooperative diplomacy with allies. The United States can issue political and diplomatic statements, and the US President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense can visit Japan and Australia, reaffirming the alliances in US cooperative diplomacy with Pacific allies. The US Navy supported US cooperative diplomacy with Japan and Australia. Through regular joint and cooperative naval activities between the US, Japan, and Australia, their navies can operate with each other together and can reinforce the bonds of these alliances. It is important for nation-states to join in international cooperation to counter cross-border maritime threats such as illegal fishing and maritime smuggling. These threats are problems for all nation-states. Cooperative diplomacy is essential in this situation. Navies and coast guards help to counter these cross-border maritime threats in nation-states by supporting cooperative diplomacy. Navies and coast guards' support to counter these cross-border illegal maritime activities is the fifth use of naval force in diplomacy.
In conclusion, naval forces play a prominent role in diplomacy. Naval forces can help foreign policy and diplomacy in several ways. Naval forces are more important to a country to protect from threats coming from other nations. The main purpose of a naval force is to protect nation-states. Navies support diplomacy in different ways, such as coercive diplomacy, deterrence, and compellence diplomacy. So, naval forces or navies are a major part of diplomacy and foreign policy.