KANISA GEORGE

It's present in international agreements, conflict and law - a principle known to many but often elusive in its nature. Yet, as controversial as it can sometimes be, it is heavily interwoven into the fabric of peace and dreadfully absent in a time of war. We've all heard of diplomacy, but do we really understand its importance?

Sir Harold Nicolson once said that diplomacy is neither the invention nor the pastime of some particular political system but is an essential element in any reasonable relation between man and man and between nation and nation. Diplomacy is an essential principle in maintaining international affairs and functions as a tool to fortify relations between nations and prevent war and violence. The act of conducting negotiations between two nations is essential to the upkeep of international affairs.

According to National Geographic, the art of diplomacy has been around since the beginning of ancient times. From as early as 2850 BC, historical records show treaties existing between different cities in Mesopotamia. Leaders from Egypt and Canaan exchanged diplomatic letters in the 14th century BC, and writings on the walls of ancient Mayan buildings in Mexico suggest that Mayan cities exchanged diplomats.

For a long time, the very nature of diplomatic relations reflected bilateral relations, but after the atrocities of the Second World War and the threat of nuclear power, diplomacy took on a multilateral image. Since the onset of the 21st century, diplomacy has significantly expanded. Today, the United Nations represents the highest form of international diplomacy as it continues to promote co-operation and settle conflicts among nations.

In order to maintain international stability and an international system that works, diplomacy is used in every corner of the world. More than a handful of embassies and consulates exists worldwide, along with diplomats deployed for duty. Diplomats or foreign officers are important to the very existence of diplomatic relations and exist to create, preserve, and repair relationships between their nation-state and other countries. Usually involved in complex and sometimes dangerous dialogue and negotiations, diplomats are needed to protect their nations political, social and economic interests abroad.

But what happens when diplomatic relations break down? In early 1961, in the heights of deteriorating relations between the US and Fidel Castro, president Eisenhower closed the American embassy in Havana, severing diplomatic ties with its neighbour. Relations became so strained that the US placed a trade embargo on Cuba, often referred to as the most enduring embargo in modern history. Other less severe diplomatic sanctions have been imposed, such as the refusal of a president to visit the offending country or meet with its leaders. Other countries resort to reducing or removing all embassy staff from the offending country.

In 2019, Nicaragua cut off all diplomatic relations with Israel as a form of protest against Israel's