Abu Dhabi: Diplomacy and negotiation require a careful balance between flexibility and holding firmly to a position that serves the national interest, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said on Friday.In a post on X, Gargash said successful negotiations depended on a realistic assessment of the leverage available to those at the table, rather than exaggeration or escalation.“Diplomacy and the art of negotiation are a delicate balance between flexibility and steadfastness on a clear position that reflects the national interest,” he said.“The success of managing this balance depends on a realistic assessment of the cards available to the negotiator, away from exaggeration and escalation.”Gargash said diplomatic efforts could falter when negotiators misread the balance of power or fail to adopt a realistic approach to the circumstances they face.“Without an accurate understanding of the balance of power, realism in assessment and balance in performance, efforts falter,” he said.He concluded with a proverb underscoring the need to avoid extremes in negotiations: “As the saying goes: do not be so rigid that you break, nor so soft that you are squeezed.”