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.
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.
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.
Pros and cons, as with everything I guess. Not sure why a unified country would be better than forming a close union… Just elevate the Benelux.
I reckon this is a ploy to have the Walloons up in arms and ask for secession themselves, giving him the open road to Flemish independence.
But I’m not sure BDW is that great a strategist.
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.
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.
I didn’t hear of the shared ownership but certainly that weakens the defense argument for the merger.
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 😄
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.
Good question. I always assumed bulk pricing is cheaper. But yea, then why not get a few more countries in the mix.