Does the use of the present tense increase tension or feel overstylised?

That would probably increase tension with its neighbours.

Challenges (teasing, questions, qualifying, feigned disinterest) serve to increase tension, test intention and congruity.

A judiciary spokesman said they had not been arrested but that they were summoned, warned not to increase tension, and later released.

The filmmakers added some turbulence to increase tension, although in fact the flight was perfectly smooth throughout.