Recent developments in the Maldives and India

Policy Study

The young and fragile democracy in the Maldives is under pressure as it heads towards the September 2013 elections. Tensions with India, the growing role of China and Islamist tendencies are affecting this tiny island state in the Indian Ocean.
The Congress government in India has been reduced to a minority on account of its key ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) withdrawing support. Early general elections cannot be ruled out. Regionalism affects India’s foreign policy. Its relations with Sri Lanka are shaky and relations with Pakistan are at a low ebb.
Hollande and Cameron tried to court the Indian government and entrepreneurs with dramatically different approaches in the same month. A diplomatic row between India and Italy over two Italian marines, who are accused of murdering Indian fishermen in Kerala, almost endangered bilateral relations. The recent BRICS-Summit in Durban is analyzed from an Indian perspective.