> the more isolated we will become and the more backward our peers will find us to be

Unfortunately, the same strain of thought that is pushing these measures is quite happy with us being more isolated and worse regarded. They think being isolated is manly virtue; that acting in concert with the international community is feminine weakness. Being liked implies that we give something away; being hated implies that we get what we want.

Hence cries of "globalist cucks!" and so on. Isolation is Strength.