Diplomacy and Covid-19: Its Impact on Negotiations and Policy Making
Written by: Feyola Anamori

The Covid-19 pandemic was an infectious global outbreak of CoronaVirus that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It affected the lives of millions of people globally. The recent CoronaVirus pandemic that hit in 2020 made a great impact on the areas of international diplomacy, policy making, negotiations, and government measures. 

 

Virtual Diplomacy and Negotiations 

 

With travel restrictions and social distancing measures in place, diplomats and policy makers were restricted from having face to face discussions and meetings. The situation forces them to resort to online meeting sites and rely on virtual platforms to replicate the nuances and interactions of face to face meetings. Virtual diplomacy eliminates the need to travel, reducing the burden for countries with limited resources to participate in international discussions. It also saves time and money. However, virtual platforms may not be suitable to express nonverbal cues and emotions, while those are essential in building rapport and gauging reactions to avoid misinterpretations. In addition, connectivity issues, technical difficulties, and different time zones also play a large role in the disruption of productive discussions. 

 

Policy Shifts

 

Following the hit of the Covid-19 pandemic, governments and international leaders rearranged their priorities and reallocated their resources in order to address the range of concerns that the virus has brought. From economic recessions to health crises, they struggled to effectively maintain a balance in their restrictive resources. This leads to a negative impact on foreign policy decisions and international negotiations, as state leaders will dedicate most of their focus to state affairs and they have limited resources to address global issues. Furthermore, a dire need for human capital resurfaced, causing government officials to stray from their regular roles and support pandemic response efforts such as supplying medical supplies and coordinating citizens.

 

Humanitarian and Economic Assistance 

 

The Covid-19 outbreak caused economic hardships and health crises all around the world. Government officials around the world and state leaders faced challenges in ensuring sufficient medical supplies, maintaining a balanced healthcare system, and funding economic activities to prevent recessions. In response, International organizations and assistance initiatives were established to support underprivileged countries with humanitarian and economic aid. This assistance includes medical supplies, financial aid, debt relief, and support for vulnerable populations. Apart from that, providing assistance during a crisis can build goodwill and strengthen diplomatic ties. But, conversely, the perception of withholding aid or not contributing proportionately could strain diplomatic relationships.