According to the policy of mercantilism, how could a nation increase its wealth?

The concept of mercantilism is centered around the idea that a nation’s wealth is best served by accumulating as much gold and silver as possible, which often depended on maintaining a favorable balance of trade. This means that a country should aim to export more goods than it imports. By selling more goods than it buys from other countries, a nation could increase its stores of precious metals and enhance its overall economic power. This surplus trade would ideally lead to increased revenues that could be used for national projects, military expenditures, and further economic development, reinforcing the country's global position.

The other options do not align with the principles of mercantilism. For instance, establishing military supremacy, while potentially beneficial for a nation's security, does not directly relate to increasing wealth through trade practices. Buying more goods from other countries contradicts the mercantilist approach of minimizing imports in order to maintain a favorable balance. Lastly, trading with all nations equally would likely not provide the competitive advantage envisioned in mercantilist strategies, as it would not focus on exporting more than importing to garner wealth.