Defence Diplomacy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy: Case Study of Kenya Defence Forces in Somalia

Abstract

This Research seeks to elaborate the meaning of defence diplomacy and its relationship with foreign policy. It encompasses the concept of statecraft and seeks to examine the utility of defense diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy used to further national interests. The KDF’s mission in Somalia is the basis of this research as the same brings together all the variables necessary for the determination of the statement of the problem of this research. Defence diplomacy as utilized by Kenya is still at its infancy stage and the same has not been adequately embraced by the KDF. Defense diplomacy is a vital instrument to politicians, diplomats and even soldiers and yet the same has been given little attention by policy makers in Kenya. This research relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. The research established that defence diplomacy is encompassed in a state’s foreign policies and is often employed to further national interests. The research illustrated that the KDF’s mission in Somalia was in furtherance of Kenya’s national interests perpetuated by its defence policies. In conclusion, the research established that in the global arena, defence diplomacy is an essential approach to curbing security concerns to a state’s sovereignty. The recommendation of the research is that Kenya’s policy makers ought to fully adopt defence diplomacy as an instrument of statecraft and a strategy for the implementation of Kenya’s foreign policy.