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Why did Frederick William join the Habsburg emperor, Spain, and the Netherlands against France in 1674?

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Frederick William, the Elector of Brandenburg, did not join the alliance against France in 1674 due to a long-term strategic commitment, but rather because he abandoned a brief period of neutrality after the Holy Roman Empire officially declared war on France.1

Following his earlier alliance with the Dutch in 1672 and a subsequent forced peace with France in 1673, Frederick William had adopted a neutral stance. His decision to join the Habsburg emperor, Spain, and the Netherlands in July 1674 was a direct response to the Empire's declaration of war, aligning with his broader, long-standing political principle of maintaining the balance of power in Europe. By consistently shifting his alliances to support the weaker power against the stronger, he sought to protect his own interests and prevent any single nation from achieving total dominance.1