When a countries economy is strong it makes the country powerful, countries with low economy always find themselves borrowing from countries with stronger economy and there by making such country or nation subject to the nation with stronger economy.
Those countries with strong economy controls the world's political and religion system.
Money is now the main source of power. We will not find any country that is weak economically but stronger than others in terms of power. Countries that have strengthened their economic side are now leading the world. There are many other countries including America, Russia and China that have established a strong financial base. They are now at the top position in the world in terms of power. But you have mentioned another thing here that if economically strong those countries can control religion along with political control, I disagreed on this. Because religion is a completely different thing and has nothing to do with economics. A politically powerful country can interfere in various political and economic affairs of the world, but they have no influence on religion. It has nothing to do with finance.