European nations were all like this. When strong, they harbored ambitions to expand their territory and rule Europe. Correspondingly, when one country grew too powerful, the others joined hands to deal with the strongest one. The Holy Roman Empire, France, and Germany had all made similar attempts, only to be besieged.
After the Soviet Union rose in the previous life, it received the same treatment. At this stage, however, Germany was still universally recognized as Europe's strongest country. If Germany had shown some restraint before the First World War and had not been so aggressive and confrontational in its foreign policy, the course of the war might have been entirely different.
East Africa had originally taken the path of hiding its strength and biding its time, but that could not, and would not, be maintained forever. After all, a country with more than ten million square kilometers of territory and over a hundred million people simply could not stay hidden.
Germany had clearly been different back then. Before the First World War, Germany had still possessed the conditions to conceal its strength. Its population and industry did not hold an overwhelming advantage over neighboring countries at the time. Yet Wilhelm II's government craved grand achievements, launched a frenzied arms race, developed its navy with great fanfare, and actively opened up colonies. In the end, this forced Britain to enter the war.
Videnoye enthusiastically introduced Yakov to the current state of Soviet and Moscow industrial development. From time to time, Moscow residents also came up to greet Yakov. There was no other reason: one look at Yakov's face showed that he was a foreigner, and mixed-race at that. Coupled with his bearing, it was easy for people to associate him with East Africa.
In fact, because of its vast territory