אין בנמצא הסכמה בנוגע להגדרה המדויקת של דיפלומטיה צבאית. יתר על כן, יש להבדיל בין "Military diplomacy" לבין "Defence diplomacy", להם משמעות שונה בהקשרים שונים. ראו פייטנקה, עמ' 181: "the term military diplomacy is often used in several different meanings".; דראב, עמ' 64: "there have been attempts to scientifically recognise this terminology proposal, which, however, did not bring a universally recognised definition of defence diplomacy". Erik Pajtinka (2016). "Military Diplomacy and Its Present Functions". International & National Studies. 20: 179–194. doi:10.24356/SD/20/9.Lech Drab (2018). "Defence diplomacy – an important tool for the implementation of foreign policy and security of the state". Security and Defence Quarterly. 20 (3): 57–71. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0012.5152.
פייטנקה, עמ' 188. Erik Pajtinka (2016). "Military Diplomacy and Its Present Functions". International & National Studies. 20: 179–194. doi:10.24356/SD/20/9.
דראב, עמ' 59–60. Lech Drab (2018). "Defence diplomacy – an important tool for the implementation of foreign policy and security of the state". Security and Defence Quarterly. 20 (3): 57–71. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0012.5152.
