We also need economic might and more importantly, leverage. Only focusing on military might is suicidal. That is the way of North Korea.
Only realistic way forward is beig indispensible and we have to be indispensible in every way possible. Geography does half the job, but other half is still very hard.
Realistic targets;
- Second best military
- Being an absolutely integral part of global economy
- Autarky when it comes to things that matter (MIC, energy, food, fuel, aerospace/software/heavy industry)
- Large influence network with a multitude of developing countries
- Better soft power vis-a-vis said developing countries
- Organized diaspora
If we achieve that, our 'relatively small' infractions will only get tantrums and not real response.