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forces to demonstrate a permanent national vital national interest. Finally, prevention is
interest in some important areas. In addition, the deployment of naval forces to build and
it can be a periodic deployment of naval gain confidence from the target state. Thus, it
forces to demonstrate a friendship or support is not conducted by threatening naval forces

readiness. Moreover, it can be an emergency but using naval forces to send clear messages
deployment to demonstrate a political gesture of reassurance and transparency in order to
of dissatisfaction. Symbolic use, another way prevent misunderstanding or further conflict.
of conducting naval diplomacy, is simply Key Advantages of Naval Forces as
naval picture-building. It is the deployment of Diplomatic Instruments
naval forces to demonstrate their capability Naval forces have key advantages which
and prestige. Hence, capital ships equipped with cannot be found in other military services.

powerful firepower together with cutting-edge They possess platforms that can achieve the
technology and highly discipline crews are whole range of peacetime naval operations
indispensable for naval picture-building. as discussed earlier. The most suitable platforms
The demonstration is usually done by for naval diplomacy are surface warships.
participating in joint exercises, humanitarian They have many obvious advantages
missions, peace operations, and piracy over maritime aircraft or submarines in the
suppression. The success of such demonstration diplomatic role. Firstly, surface warships are
would finally gain international prestige and very flexible because there are many different
respect from the target state. The next way types of them. Individually, they are very

of conducting naval diplomacy is coercion. versatile because they are equipped for a
It deals with the target state’s action that is variety of operational tasks. The same surface
taking or has taken place and tries to warships can send supporting messages or
change that state’s behavior by fear of one’s demonstrate supporting gestures to a friendly
own naval forces. Moreover, coercion by naval state and at the same time they can send
forces can be either defensive or offensive in threatening messages or demonstrate negative
nature. On the one hand, defensive coercion gestures to a target state. Secondly, surface

may be an attempt to force the target state warships are controllable as they are less
to stop or undo an encroachment viewed as provocative than other military platforms.
threatening to one’s own national interests. The presence of foreign surface warships in one’s
On the other hand, offensive coercion may own exclusive economic zone is not as sensitive
be an attempt to blackmail the target state as the presence of tanks or combat aircraft
to give up something considered as one’s own in one’s own border. Additionally, a confrontation

40 นาวิกศาสตร์ ปีที่ ๑๐๑ เล่มที่ ๖ มิถุนายน ๒๕๖๑

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