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Because the US and the Netherlands are long-term strategic allies and partners in NATO, share a broadly similar vision of a world governed by international inst

Because the US and the Netherlands are long-term strategic allies and partners in NATO, share a broadly similar vision of a world governed by international institutions and the rule of law (if the current US decline into authoritarianism can be reversed), and largely share a common culture and history? The Netherlands has benefited greatly from 400 years of the dominance of western civilization, and I assume they would want to see that continue?

Udik 6y ago
Much more simply, because the US is a rich customer and military giant with a population of 330 million, and has the means to hurt the Netherlands, a country of only 17 million people. This is not moral suasion, this is pure and simple bullying.
- fastball 6y ago
  Pretty sure China has a handful more than 330 million people.
  - Udik 6y ago
    Sure, but the Netherlands is not as interdependent with China as it is with the US. The point is that the US is not convincing the Netherlands that blocking China is a smart move (because it isn't), it's forcing it with threats.
- HenryBemis 6y ago
  USA can bully many countries, but NL is part of the EU so sit back, shut up, and play nice. To make this even more political, UK is (finally) leaving the EU, and as they have been USA's little bitch/snitch for the past few decades that makes many Europeans happy. EU is not the enemy of USA. If anything we are trying to create a peaceful union based on collaboration and respect. And we want to form a unified culture of respect and peace with freedom and progress. And on the EU side we are making it happen slow and steady. "You Americans" go and clean up the shitshows you have caused in your backyard and then come talk to us. And with that said, I have really enjoyed every of my visits to the USA, vast majority of the people are friendly and open hearted. It is the stupid politics and the lobbying politicians I can't stand. I strongly believe that once USA stops the race to "global domination" (that MAGA stuff) and starts on global unification we will succeed to have a better life all over the planet. And even those who disagree with our way of life will sooner or later join us or wither and die (and I don't mean we bomb them).
  - Udik 6y ago
    > but NL is part of the EU so sit back, shut up, and play nice. ... And on the EU side we are making it happen slow and steady. Oh well, you're very optimistic. I see a EU that keeps failing again and again at being anything more than a collection of countries, each sporting a national pride that is genuinely pathetic at this point. Last year the US told Europe that it would sanction EU companies that acted according to an international treaty that was signed both by Europe and the US (the Iran nuclear agreement). I didn't hear a voice coming from the EU. Let's be realistic, at this moment the EU is an embarrassing disaster. I am European and I wish the best for the Union, but we're not really going anywhere like this.
    - HenryBemis 6y ago
      > EU that keeps failing again and again Yes, that scares me a bit, we seem to be doing 3 steps forward, 1 step back. But looking at where we are now, on major and smaller things, we are definitely moving forward. I remember a 7-8 years ago major steps were made on the collaboration into issuing pensions for EU citizens that have worked in more than one EU country. This now has been resolved, and instead of needed X months to exchange data, now it's done (almost) seamelessly and someone (like me) that has worked in many countries, can get "one pension" from "one country" in weeks (instead if months/years). There is a lot of work, plenty of things to align. If we see this just as an IT project, we need to align 26 different core systems, they have differences in their data dictionaries, diffent laws and regulatory frameworks. This is a nightmare project, and it is run by 26 Public Sectors :) Imagine getting THAT to work. But it is working. One problem at a time.
      - Udik 6y ago
        The problem is not "aligning the core systems". The problem is that each of those systems has its own independent government and tries to defend first and foremost its own interests against the other countries in the union. The fact that France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, etc. have their own foreign ministers, their own defense ministers (and armies) and so on is the issue. Or the fact that the US government can address its requests to a Dutch minister, or a French minister. Someone who can't reply "oh yes? Then we'll have that German or Irish industry stop importing from you. And forget about the participation of the whole EU army in any of your present and future aggressions around the world".
- dang 6y ago
  Please don't take HN threads into nationalistic flamewar. It's not what this site is for. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Udik 6y ago

Much more simply, because the US is a rich customer and military giant with a population of 330 million, and has the means to hurt the Netherlands, a country of only 17 million people. This is not moral suasion, this is pure and simple bullying.

fastball 6y ago
Pretty sure China has a handful more than 330 million people.
- Udik 6y ago
  Sure, but the Netherlands is not as interdependent with China as it is with the US. The point is that the US is not convincing the Netherlands that blocking China is a smart move (because it isn't), it's forcing it with threats.
HenryBemis 6y ago
USA can bully many countries, but NL is part of the EU so sit back, shut up, and play nice. To make this even more political, UK is (finally) leaving the EU, and as they have been USA's little bitch/snitch for the past few decades that makes many Europeans happy. EU is not the enemy of USA. If anything we are trying to create a peaceful union based on collaboration and respect. And we want to form a unified culture of respect and peace with freedom and progress. And on the EU side we are making it happen slow and steady. "You Americans" go and clean up the shitshows you have caused in your backyard and then come talk to us. And with that said, I have really enjoyed every of my visits to the USA, vast majority of the people are friendly and open hearted. It is the stupid politics and the lobbying politicians I can't stand. I strongly believe that once USA stops the race to "global domination" (that MAGA stuff) and starts on global unification we will succeed to have a better life all over the planet. And even those who disagree with our way of life will sooner or later join us or wither and die (and I don't mean we bomb them).
- Udik 6y ago
  > but NL is part of the EU so sit back, shut up, and play nice. ... And on the EU side we are making it happen slow and steady. Oh well, you're very optimistic. I see a EU that keeps failing again and again at being anything more than a collection of countries, each sporting a national pride that is genuinely pathetic at this point. Last year the US told Europe that it would sanction EU companies that acted according to an international treaty that was signed both by Europe and the US (the Iran nuclear agreement). I didn't hear a voice coming from the EU. Let's be realistic, at this moment the EU is an embarrassing disaster. I am European and I wish the best for the Union, but we're not really going anywhere like this.
  - HenryBemis 6y ago
    > EU that keeps failing again and again Yes, that scares me a bit, we seem to be doing 3 steps forward, 1 step back. But looking at where we are now, on major and smaller things, we are definitely moving forward. I remember a 7-8 years ago major steps were made on the collaboration into issuing pensions for EU citizens that have worked in more than one EU country. This now has been resolved, and instead of needed X months to exchange data, now it's done (almost) seamelessly and someone (like me) that has worked in many countries, can get "one pension" from "one country" in weeks (instead if months/years). There is a lot of work, plenty of things to align. If we see this just as an IT project, we need to align 26 different core systems, they have differences in their data dictionaries, diffent laws and regulatory frameworks. This is a nightmare project, and it is run by 26 Public Sectors :) Imagine getting THAT to work. But it is working. One problem at a time.
    - Udik 6y ago
      The problem is not "aligning the core systems". The problem is that each of those systems has its own independent government and tries to defend first and foremost its own interests against the other countries in the union. The fact that France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, etc. have their own foreign ministers, their own defense ministers (and armies) and so on is the issue. Or the fact that the US government can address its requests to a Dutch minister, or a French minister. Someone who can't reply "oh yes? Then we'll have that German or Irish industry stop importing from you. And forget about the participation of the whole EU army in any of your present and future aggressions around the world".
dang 6y ago
Please don't take HN threads into nationalistic flamewar. It's not what this site is for. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html