Soft power doesn't work without hard power, or someone who wields hard power on your behalf. Countries that currently use soft power most prominently are doing

Soft power doesn't work without hard power, or someone who wields hard power on your behalf. Countries that currently use soft power most prominently are doing so to attract attention from the citizenry of hard powers such as the US, so that if a conflict arises, said citizenry will be so offended at their friends being harmed that they'll feel an increased duty to join the fight. (this ignores non-military uses of soft power)