In the twenty-first century, international relations are being reshaped not by conventional military might but by the asymmetrical distribution of digital capabilities. This chapter introduces Cognitive Diplomacy as a strategic response to the global challenge of digital asymmetry, where technologically dominant actors dictate not only infrastructure and innovation but also epistemic authority. As artificial intelligence (AI), platform dynamics, and information flows increasingly mediate perception and decision-making, diplomacy must evolve from traditional negotiation toward cognitive engagement. Cognitive diplomacy redefines statecraft as the ability to autonomously govern the interaction of human and artificial intelligence within strategic communication, foreign policy reasoning, and global governance. Grounded in the pursuit of digital autonomy, this chapter presents a three-part model—Presence, Practice, and Resilience—demonstrating how states can protect their sovereignty by developing cognitive infrastructures and policy foresight. Drawing on real-world examples from both the Global North and South, it explores how states deploy AI in areas such as crisis response, disinformation defense, and diplomatic communication. It also reflects on the ethical and institutional transformations required to implement cognitive diplomacy. Positioned at the intersection of technology and power, this chapter asserts that cognitive diplomacy is no longer a conceptual luxury—it is a strategic imperative for autonomy in the technopolar age.