Comparing the choices of individuals with foreign diplomacy is specious. It is much harder for countries to have principles than individuals.
The same can be said of boardroom politics and board of directors. Or investment circles such as tech venture capital
They don't have principles.
Even "maximize the hegemonic monopolistic power of my claws" can be taken as mindset principles.
Having principles is orthogonal to striving adoption of ethical fair well being for everyone.