Would a Federation warship like the Defiant out gun a Star Wars Star Destroyer? Who has a bigger armada? Who has the tactical advantage? Don’t forget that The Federation includes the Klingons, who love warfare and have fast, agile, heavily armed ships, with cloaking devices, and the Vulcans with superior logic and tactical planning.
I think Starfleet would choose to not engage the Empire, and hide behind cloaks instead.
Starfleet generally doesn’t use cloaks, and they’ve never hidden from a fight. They will try to resolve it peacefully, but they have no qualms about going to war when it’s necessary. The Federation includes Klingons, who do use cloaks, but they definitely never shy from a fight, usually preferring aggression over negotiation.