Ever since I've read the Foundation science fiction novels I wonder if there are really political powers so cunning, that they increase the economy of an enemy

Ever since I've read the Foundation science fiction novels I wonder if there are really political powers so cunning, that they increase the economy of an enemy just to keep the government there struggling with their citizen. E.g. does the UK support Hongkong to make trouble for the Mainland? Does Russia sell stuff unhealthily cheap to the EU to keep everybody there fed and arrogant? Why does the US not throw loads of satelite internet phones over North Korea so that its citizen get access to western propaganda?