Lessons from Iran-Israel tensions

This week’s diplomatic breakthroughs, from Queen Mary of Denmark’s visit to Nigeria, to President Trump’s successful brokering of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, offer a timely reminder: in an unstable world, soft power remains one of the most effective instruments for securing peace and shaping lasting influence. While military force may seize attention, it is often dialogue that achieves true resolution.

Queen Mary’s visit to Nigeria was more than a ceremonial formality. Her engagement on issues such as healthcare, education, and climate resilience demonstrated Denmark’s intent to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships. Far from being symbolic, these efforts reflect a strategy of sustained diplomacy grounded in trust and shared development goals.

Danish businesses, too, are deepening their commercial engagement with Nigeria, not through pressure, but through relationship-building. This kind of diplomacy, warm, deliberate, and structured, creates room for economic cooperation, reinforces civil institutions, and reshapes global perception without a single weapon drawn.

Across the world, global attention has been fixed on the recent de-escalation between Iran and Israel, a potentially catastrophic confrontation narrowly avoided. The fragile ceasefire, brokered with discretion and urgency by President Donald Trump, was achieved not through threats or airstrikes, but through negotiation, back-channel communication, and steady pressure for restraint.

For all the partisanship of American politics, this quiet diplomatic success highlights the enduring relevance of negotiation, especially in situations where further aggression could plunge the region into wider conflict. It stands as proof that statecraft still matters, and that words, when chosen carefully, carry the power to prevent bloodshed.

Nigeria too often underutilises diplomacy. Embassies are underfunded, foreign engagements undercoordinated, and strategic outreach inconsistently pursued. This neglect diminishes our ability to respond to global trends and erodes our voice on the international stage.

But the need for soft diplomacy is urgent, especially as the country grapples with rising insecurity, economic uncertainty, and regional tensions.

In Plateau State, where yet another tragedy unfolded in Mangu, it has become painfully clear that force alone cannot resolve communal tensions. Local peace-building, traditional mediation, and sustained trust-building are all vital to restoring calm. These tools lie squarely in the domain of diplomacy, not militarisation.

If Nigeria is to attract real foreign investment, the kind that brings jobs and technology, we must present a predictable and credible regulatory environment. That requires strategic diplomatic engagement with key partners like Denmark, China, and the Gulf states, with follow-through that reflects seriousness, not sloganeering.

Nigeria’s story abroad should be shaped by our strengths, our creativity, resilience, entrepreneurial drive, and cultural depth. Effective diplomacy gives us the platform to reshape how the world sees us, and to align that perception with the future we want to build.

There are concrete ways Nigeria can revitalise its diplomatic machinery: Adequately fund embassies and missions, so diplomats can represent us with competence, not constraint. Also, we must deploy economic envoys dedicated to showcasing Nigeria’s advantages and attracting targeted investment.

We must equip foreign service professionals with knowledge beyond protocol: in public health, climate issues, and digital transformation. We must also harness the Nigerian diaspora as informal ambassadors, with proper support and inclusion in strategic goals.

The ceasefire between Israel and Iran, however delicate, is proof that diplomacy can still prevent disaster. For Nigeria, it is a compelling case for reviving our own diplomatic tools, not just on the world stage, but within our borders as well. Conflict, whether international or domestic, is often best addressed not by confrontation, but by connection.

Soft power is not weakness. It is wisdom. It is the art of shaping the future without resorting to force. Nigeria must now adopt it with conviction, and with a seriousness equal to the challenges we face.