During my youth, it was important not to import more than one exported. There wasn't a global market. It was regarded as bad financial practice to buy more than you could pay for.

In the same way, buying on credit was also scorned. You either bought cash, or you didn't buy at all. That kept everybody financially strong.

The British Empire and all the other colonizing countries definitely did everything for profit. Mercantilism, the financial system before capitalism, focused on enriching one's own country - not for personal gain. So the old world stole everything from the new world. They plundered and took.

One does not have to take from other countries in order to be strong. One needs to be financially independent, have a solid infrastructure in one's own country, have a fully educated populace, and ensure that everybody is sane and fully functional.