The Prime Directive is that the Federation won’t interfere with the development of a pre-warp society.
While warp capability (or a rough equivalent) is the prerequisite for first contact, the Prime Directive is broader, forbidding intervention in the internal affairs of any non-Federation civilization.
While warp capability (or a rough equivalent) is the prerequisite for first contact, the Prime Directive is broader, forbidding intervention in the internal affairs of any non-Federation civilization.