A. The main driving force of the British Empire’s global expansion was the pursuit of commercial interests.

B. That entailed helping the weaker side in order to promote a regional balance of power and preventing the rise of a regional power, or at least reducing its impact on British security and interests.

C. Creating a balance of power and fostering regional stability could help to realize commercial goals; hence these became the core of the British Empire’s strategy.

D. Britain put these practices to use in its continental policy for hundreds of years.