Why did Frederick William ally Brandenburg with the Dutch Republic in 1672?

In 1672, Frederick William, the Elector of Brandenburg, allied with the Dutch Republic primarily to uphold his commitment to maintaining the European balance of power.1

Following the rise of Louis XIV, Frederick William adopted a strategic policy of consistently supporting the weaker power against the stronger to prevent any single nation from achieving dominance. When Louis XIV prepared to invade the Netherlands, the Elector recognized the threat this posed to his own territories of Cleves on the lower Rhine and sought to counter French expansion by providing aid to the Dutch states-general. This decision was consistent with his broader political philosophy, which he had previously outlined in his 1667 political testament, of advancing the interests of his house by shifting alliances to favor the side currently under pressure.1