Is Star Trek the ultimate extension of settler colonialism? You have the Prime Directive to prevent this, but oops! Accidently violated it, and the Federation has to send it's missionaries. It happens often enough in the Star Trek universe that one has to wonder if it's not by design. Roddenberry pitching the show with Wagon Train and Horatio Hornblower reinforces the settler aspect.

Maybe "explore strange new worlds" should be cut from the mission and stay in your space become the priority.