Like the Strait of Malacca, the Maldives commands a "choke point" for world trade. The tankers carrying crude from the Middle East to Asia sail on narrow sea routes that veer past the Maldives.

For Singapore, in addition to strategic maritime value, the Maldives is a rather familiar place, a must-do destination for high-end tourists. As the crisis wends on into its second month, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, like many other nations, has asked travellers to defer plans until the political situation there stabilises.