India-Maldives row frames the need for India’s long neglected marine doctrine

News Snapshot:

The incipient tensions between India and its tiny neighbour, Maldives, simmering for over a decade, finally came to a head when three junior ministers of the island nation’s government made crude and disparaging remarks on social media about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep islands. Once New Delhi conveyed its displeasure over this gross impropriety, the Maldivian government distanced itself from the remarks, and President Mohamed Muizzu “suspended” the errant ministers before departing for his maiden visit to Beijing. While it may be tempting to dismiss this contretemps as a “storm in a teacup,” there are a few...