The Dutch depended on British, American, and Australian support to defend their remaining forces and territory in the East Indies. Yet the American-British-Dutch-Australian command, or ABDA, was assembled only after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Dutch leaders therefore had the strongest incentive to demand a joint command before war reached the region. They could have promoted politically influential Allied commanders while bargaining for a meaningful Dutch place in the land, sea, or air command structure.
Chapter · 8:02-9:30
The Dutch case for an early ABDA command
With its surviving forces concentrated in the East Indies, the Dutch government had the strongest reason to demand a unified Allied command before Japan attacked.