Partnership

Having a mutual history of four hundred years would make it logical to look more closely at the partnership between The Netherlands and the USA.
Partnerships between people and countries means that you are there for each other, for the better and for worse.
The Americans were there in the World War II. They liberated Europe, and you could say the Americans protected their place of origin. Afterwards, they offered economic aid through the Marshall Plan.
General George Marshall, then minister of Foreign Affairs, introduced the aid with: “Our policy isn’t focused against any country or target, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.” For the Netherlands the help was $ 1,127 billion.
It was an act of unprecedented generosity aimed at getting Europe, which had been reduced to absolute poverty, up and running again. The psychological effect was that the inhabitants of Europe got back their trust in the future.
The Dutch have helped the US recently in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the war against terrorism. Even through many Dutch people were against, the government thought it their responsibility to be a partner of the US.
And after hurricane Katrina the Dutch are helping with the dikes in New Orleans. Hurricane Gustav made it clear that their assistance is beginning to pay off.
The partnership of KLM and NWA is another successful business example.

Understanding the value and importance of partnerships, with whom would you like to start a partnership?
If you already are part of a partnership, what is the economical and psychological value for you?