The only question is how paranoid are they after the Jihad? With Blakist forces masquerading as friendly forces during (and after) the Jihad how welcoming are they going to be to outsiders?
I think long term their desire would be to build up the Association Militia to pre-Jihad strength or higher, along with more robust production capabilities. Short term, however, things are very precarious - the only thing saving them from being overrun by the Hegemony at the moment is the fact that Alphard is likely still a bigger mess than Niops VII.
That's why I like the idea of a partnership with IE - the Niops government can profit off of units and ships signing on with IE for expeditions and act as a clearing house world if any of those expeditions make contact with uncharted Periphery worlds or powers open to trade. If they play their cards right, as the Great Houses slowly pare down the number of available mercenary contracts Niops could pick up some of the slack as a mini Hiring Hall world. Of course, they run the risk of someone attempting to pull off an Outreach style sub rosa sneak attack but the factors that led to that happening in the first place would be hard to duplicate.
Meanwhile, with the loss of so much military and industrial power the Niops government has to relearn the art of maintaining a regional balance of power - from a far less advantageous position than it is used to. And perhaps with lingering internal strife, as well.
Really, I think Niops makes for an ideal post-Jihad campaign setting - it provides a little something for everyone. (Ok, maybe not Homeworld Clan fans...)