Soft Power is not to be underestimated. It lays the groundwork to legitimize illegal invasions, as seen with Libya. And The current Russian-Ukrainian war is also another perfect example. The West doesn't need to defeat Russia, they can simply damage Russia enough to an extent where Russia won't pose any direct threat anymore. They keep being on top, whilst potential rivals/enemies are kept low and weakened. That's also why France and Germany, the two main Powers in the EU, are keen on supporting Greece against Turkey when it comes to maritime rights and potential energy reserves in the eastern med.