Britain's Foreign Office, meanwhile, has curtailed diplomatic and economic relations with Iran.

ECONOMIST: Iran's seizure of British sailors raises the stakes

Last year, Mutharika expelled a British envoy who was quoted criticizing him in a leaked diplomatic cable, straining relations with one of Malawi's largest foreign donors.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States had normalized, and direct foreign investments were beginning to drive economic growth there.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki confirmed Tehran was looking at relations with the UK following the tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.

CNN: Report: Iran to 'review' UK relations as tensions mount

This dogged diplomatic pragmatism has been ardently pursued by the foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, an ebullient professor of international relations who had long advised Mr Erdogan before his appointment in May.

ECONOMIST: Turkey and the Middle East

Italy's foreign ministry slammed the Indian court's decision as a "clear violation" of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which says diplomats are immune from prosecution in countries where they serve.

WSJ: EU Warns India on Italian Ambassador's Immunity