• autonomousPunk
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    Defense was one of the stated notable motivations. But I struggle to imagine what weird corner case scenario would require NL and BE to be merged in order to react more effectively.

    I also think future wars will be heavily information based… like cyber attacks that bring down banks. Netherlands cashless direction makes them more vulnerable to that.

    • myrmidexOPMA
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      2 days ago

      Didn’t the 2 countries already buy some ships together already? found the article. So that leaves the single point of command as the advantage of a real merger, but that seems easily solved as well without the countries fusing.

      I have heard BDW talk a lot about joining The Netherlands, but never did he mention war. Benefits for the harbor, sure, or the prestige of joining such a rich past of which Antwerp was a part in some cases. And inbetween the lines the much more advanced neoliberal undressing of the social system. That would enable him to leap 20 years ahead in his quest.

      • autonomousPunk
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        I didn’t hear of the shared ownership but certainly that weakens the defense argument for the merger.

        • myrmidexOPMA
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          2 days ago

          Oh I didn’t mean to say or imply shared ownership, that’s not the case as far as I can tell. I don’t think the Dutch would be so careless with money 😄

          • autonomousPunk
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            ah, shared ownership was naturally my assumption. Now that I translated the article, I’m not sure why they needed to cooperate, as opposed to each independantly buying them.

            • myrmidexOPMA
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              2 days ago

              Good question. I always assumed bulk pricing is cheaper. But yea, then why not get a few more countries in the mix.