History, Mr. Menkalinan. Also the present. There’s a symmetry at work: of the core powers, two, in the end, look inward, longing to be left alone forever, and two outward, longing to set the world aright.
Who is correct to feel how, is obscure. But it is inevitable that those who long above all to be left alone will tend to look at the outward-facing powers with worry and that the outward-facing powers will each watch its rival with mistrust.
Those who do not serve the Empire tend to watch it warily. It’s the same for the Federation. Mostly, those who believe in their causes, join them. Everyone else is probably going to be at least a little suspicious.
That’s all.