Even if you are in the 'in-group' you still risk getting shanked if it so suits the big boys. it's still the world of geopolitics anyway, there are no permanent allies or enemies between states, only interests. Even now US dumps the whole Russia-Ukraine stuff on Europe despite them being the major contributor/co-conspirators to the project. EU is also too stubborn or in too deep to get out of dodge, but still.

You act as if this is not the case for every country in the world, past and present with very few and temporary exceptions