@tylnesh one or two phrases from your selection, again, the warning that expansion would be viewed as a threat... and it's not the only reference. It's also not a good argument to say one wants protection from bully B because he fights bully A. I'd say refuse all them bullies. Maybe what's really necessary is for such big states to be broken down into smaller states (similar to anti-trust), that can't bully or invade other countries as easily.