The submarine has historically proven itself to be able to greatly contribute to the achievement of national strategic goals and ambitions. Multiple nations are therefore developing and procuring submarines to increase their own strategic effect on the global arena. What is absent in discussions regarding submarines are possible contributions as a diplomatic tool.
This study aims to analyze the possibility of understanding the submarine as a diplomatic tool in a context of development. Thus the study is based on theories of naval diplomacy which through the use of four strategic values, formulated and defined by the theories, explains national use of naval forces for diplomatic purposes. By analysis of documents explaining the development of submarines in two nations, Sweden and the USA, with differing global and strategic ambitions a width regarding empirical data is ensured which in turn contributes to a wider understanding of the submarine.
The outcome of the analysis shows that the submarine indeed can be understood and seen as a tool of diplomatic value. However the result is ambiguous since the strategic value of symbolism does not present itself as a factor in the depiction of the submarine in Swedish documents and thus prevents the total understanding of the submarine as a diplomatic tool.