unofficial talks
Off-the-record conversations
Unofficial talks are discussions between parties—typically governments, organizations, or factions—that occur outside formal diplomatic or institutional channels.
They allow exploration of positions without commitment, often serving as groundwork for official negotiations: Unofficial talks between the two countries preceded the treaty.
The label provides deniability if discussions fail or leak.
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
- smoke-filled roomSecret political negotiation venue
- whispersSpeaks very quietly
- off-the-recordNot for attribution
- off the recordNot meant for reporting
hushed · diplomatic · quiet diplomacy · negotiation · corridor · handshake · under the table · confidential · closed door · private · informal · discreet · sidebar · secret · preliminary · exploratory · feelers · channels
- back channelsback doors, intermediaries, go-betweens, middlemen, proxies
unofficial talkstreaty negotiations
Diplomatic discussions toward accord
summit talks · diplomatic summit · summit meeting · state visit
unofficial, talks, official, unofficially, officially, talk, talked, talking, talker