I don't even really understand what "glory" is supposed to mean here; I'm more a believer in the cold, hard reality of geopolitical survival : you can't be a gl

I don't even really understand what "glory" is supposed to mean here; I'm more a believer in the cold, hard reality of geopolitical survival : you can't be a global superpower when your own seafront is literally at the mercy of an hostile (and warlike) nation.