Your average dictator doesn't get why the US or EU or NATO etc 'review applications for membership'. They want to add more people to control, we view it as 'give us some proof you deserve to be in and won't cause trouble'. Democratic countries (real ones) are basically incapable of forcible expansion. Getting membership is like joining a secret society or fraternity, 'this worm seeks membership brethren, what task shall we set him? The corridor of paddling or a maximum defcit of 3% of GDP? What say you brethren?'