Track 1 1/2 and Track II Diplomacy

Track I 1/2 and Track II diplomacy forms the basis of the NCAFP’s unique approach to resolving conflicts and promoting America’s strategic interests. This type of diplomacy features unofficial, informal, and candid conversation. Former Secretary of Defense William Perry defines it as “the dialogue between non-officials of nations designed to make up for the perceived shortcomings in the official dialogue.”

As Track I 1/2 and Track II activities are designed to supplement the official dialogue by compensating for the restraints imposed upon such official negotiations, they depend heavily on a high level of trust between participants and facilitators. Always maintaining a nonpartisan stance, the NCAFP has dedicated itself to developing exactly this type of relationship with players on all sides of a conflict. Participants in our Track I 1/2 and Track II dialogues include former and current officials, scholars and foreign policy experts, and other individuals with the potential to influence the leadership’s decision-making.

The trust, channels of communication, and personal relationships which develop through the process of Track I 1/2 and Track II negotiations are indispensable to overcoming the limits of official diplomacy. The NCAFP’s efforts in Northern Ireland, Northeast Asia, and other regions of the world have been and continue to be essential to alleviating conflicts that threaten U.S. interests in these areas.