I think expectations differ. I believe if you are selling your organisation as one that does no harm / defends then power grabbing or influencing a feeder or multiple regions is in fact the opposite of protecting sovereign rights. You are no longer protecting their sovereign rights but inflicting your own organisations agenda on the regions in question.
Each feeder / sink ultimately can take action to slow down outside influences but I guess if they are content with this situation then it's not going to change.
Barn door, horse bolted.