Middle powers need friends. US offers only colonial vassal status with CIA determined rulers. China does not. Just buy stuff because it is best value/cheap. In the prehistory that was 2021, Russia did not vassalize its customers. Just buy their stuff because it was cheapest. Russia is not an imperial power over Europe because of counterbalance. Russia did not threaten/berate EU over green transition. Trump/Biden threatened EU over Nordstream 2. When your master extorts you with energy prices and forced war, you need new friends. The more friends, the more counterbalance for others to be friendlier to you.
Middle powers need friends. US offers only colonial vassal status with CIA determined rulers. China does not. Just buy stuff because it is best value/cheap. In the prehistory that was 2021, Russia did not vassalize its customers. Just buy their stuff because it was cheapest. Russia is not an imperial power over Europe because of counterbalance. Russia did not threaten/berate EU over green transition. Trump/Biden threatened EU over Nordstream 2. When your master extorts you with energy prices and forced war, you need new friends. The more friends, the more counterbalance for others to be friendlier to you.