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How is diplomacy different from foreign policy?

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Taking prisoners — diplomacy A larger-than-life Ramses II towering over his prisoners and clutching them by the hair. Limestone bas-relief from Memphis, Egypt, 1290–24 bce; in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, diplomacy and foreign policy are distinct concepts in international relations.1

Foreign policy refers to the general objectives, strategies, and broad tactics that a state establishes to guide its interactions with other nations. It is determined by political leaders to further national interests—such as security, economic prosperity, and territorial integrity—based on factors like history, geography, and the global distribution of power. Foreign policy may utilize various instruments to achieve its goals, including military force, intelligence operations, economic measures, and diplomacy.12

Diplomacy is the primary instrument used to implement foreign policy. It is the established method of influencing the decisions and behavior of foreign governments and peoples through nonviolent means, such as dialogue and negotiation. While foreign policy sets the "what" and "why," diplomacy provides the "how" by managing relations, resolving disputes, and building coalitions. Unlike foreign policy, which is typically enunciated publicly, much of the diplomatic process is conducted in confidence to facilitate the peaceful adjustment of differences between states.123