Gargash says excessive rhetoric and escalation can weaken efforts to reach agreements.
Abu Dhabi: Diplomacy and negotiation require a careful balance between flexibility and maintaining positions that protect the national interest, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said on Friday.
In a post on X, Gargash said successful negotiations depend on realistically assessing the leverage available to each side at the negotiating table, rather than relying on exaggeration or escalation.
“Diplomacy and negotiation require a delicate balance between flexibility and firmness on a clear position that reflects the national interest,” he said.
“The success of maintaining this balance depends on a realistic assessment of the options and leverage available to the negotiator, without resorting to exaggeration or escalation.”
Gargash said diplomatic efforts can falter when negotiators misjudge the balance of power or fail to take a realistic view of the circumstances they face.
“Without an accurate understanding of the balance of power, realistic assessment and a balanced approach, diplomatic efforts can falter,” he said.
He concluded by citing a proverb that highlights the importance of avoiding extremes during negotiations: “Do not be so rigid that you break, nor so soft that you are squeezed.”
