Glossary · Good Offices Diplomacy

Good Offices Diplomacy

Use of an intermediary’s access, credibility or convening power to help parties communicate and find a peaceful way forward, without necessarily acting as a formal mediator.

Term type · Established practiceTypes of Diplomacy

Context

Good offices can be undertaken by the UN Secretary-General, envoys, heads of state or trusted third parties when direct contact is difficult.

Why it matters for foreign affairs

It preserves dialogue options and may create conditions for negotiation even when parties resist a formal mediation process.

Where it appears in practice

The UN Secretary-General submitted a report on his good-offices mission in Cyprus in July 2025. Source