For the Spanish Government, they might even hope that the Dutch would initiate an attack on Spain's colonies. If Spain were to declare war on the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the meddler, might interfere with this war.
However, if the Dutch were to declare war on Spain first, Spain would have sufficient reason to engage in a major war with the Netherlands.
Whether it be a homeland war or a colonial war, Spain is confident enough to crush the Netherlands. If the United Kingdom still wanted to interfere after the Dutch declared war, the treaties Spain had signed would not be for naught.
Not to mention, both France and Russia would gladly trip up the British.
If Austria-Hungary and Italy were willing to support Spain as well, even the United Kingdom, as the world's strongest nation, would not be able to withstand such diplomatic pressure.
Aside from annexing the Brunei Sultanate on the island of Borneo, Spain also had colonial actions on the island of New Guinea.
