gunboat diplomacy
Warship-backed foreign policy
Gunboat diplomacy is the use of military power—or its threat—to pressure weaker nations into compliance.
The term evokes nineteenth-century imperial powers anchoring warships in foreign harbors to extract concessions: The treaty was signed under gunboat diplomacy, with British vessels waiting offshore.
Now used broadly for any heavy-handed coercion in international relations.
- Treaty of Nanking1842 Anglo-Chinese peace accord
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- open door policyUnrestricted visitor welcome stance
- Opium WarsColonial drug-trade conflicts
- show of forceIntimidating display of power
iron fist · sphere of influence · show the flag · extraterritoriality · sabre rattling · naval blockade · brinkmanship · sea power · intimidation · colonial expansion · posturing · strongarm · military · occupation · strategy · ultimatum · force majeure · regime change
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- foreign policysanctions, containment, deterrence, isolationism, treaties
- imperialismempire building, colonization, imperial expansion, British Empire, colonies
- naval warfarenaval battles, naval battle, battleship, destroyer, sea battles
- 1800s AsiaQing dynasty, Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion, British Raj, Emperor Meiji
- 19th Century Diplomacyambassador, ambassadors, envoy, envoys, Congress of Vienna
gunboat diplomacyrapprochement
Reestablishment of harmonious relations
détente · conciliation · mediation · appeasement · compromise
gunboat diplomacysoft power
Influence through appeal
cultural diplomacy · equal partnership · foreign aid · cultural exchange · charm offensive
gunboat diplomacycollective security
Shared defense pact system
international cooperation · coalition-building · international law
diplomacy, diplomat, diplomatic, gunboat, cannonade, gunnery, diplomatically, gunboats, diplomacies