What does diplomacy involve?

Diplomacy primarily involves the art and practice of negotiating and conducting relations between nations. It encompasses making deals, forming alliances, and fostering communications to manage international issues peacefully. When countries engage in diplomacy, they seek to resolve conflicts through discussions and agreements rather than through military action or coercive measures. This approach often includes treaties, trade agreements, and various forms of collaboration to address mutual interests and concerns.

In contrast, deploying military force, building trade barriers, and holding referendums do not typically characterize the core functions of diplomacy. Military action generally signifies a breakdown of diplomatic relations, whereas trade barriers can lead to trade disputes that diplomacy aims to resolve. Referendums are usually domestic processes and do not directly pertain to the diplomatic interactions between countries. Therefore, the aspect of making a deal with other countries accurately reflects the fundamental essence of diplomacy.