Why did Portugal remain neutral during the ARW?

Seeing as it was a close ally of Britain, and had an interest in American possessions not going their own way, why did Portugal not get involved on Britain's side?

Equally, why did Austria not take it as an opportunity to hit France?
 
Seeing as it was a close ally of Britain, and had an interest in American possessions not going their own way, why did Portugal not get involved on Britain's side?

Equally, why did Austria not take it as an opportunity to hit France?

why would they want to get involved in a what seemed to be a smutty rebellion on a continent that they did not have any colonies on? i doubt the brits even wanted the portuguese to help them.

the only reason the french got involved was to piss off the brits
 
Seeing as it was a close ally of Britain, and had an interest in American possessions not going their own way, why did Portugal not get involved on Britain's side?

Might have to do with the fact, that their mainland was right next to Spain, an resurgent American ally, which looked out for a chance to get lost possessions like Florida and eh, Portugal back.

Equally, why did Austria not take it as an opportunity to hit France?

1. It could have led to a war against France, Spain and Prussia, what is close their worst nightmare

2. They had patched their relation to France (Marie Antoinette) and France was, for the time beeing not threatening. So why start a probably ruinous war?
 
Remember that Portugal is still recovering from the 1755 earthquake, and supporting its ally in a silly colonial war would make things worse.
 
Remember that Portugal is still recovering from the 1755 earthquake, and supporting its ally in a silly colonial war would make things worse.

Not to mention France and Austria were at least (nominally) allies, so Austria isn't going to attack France. In this period Britain had virtually no allies on the continent; Prussia had recently reneged her treaty with Britain and Russia formed the League of Armed Neutrality to handle shipping.
 
Not to mention France and Austria were at least (nominally) allies, so Austria isn't going to attack France. In this period Britain had virtually no allies on the continent; Prussia had recently reneged her treaty with Britain and Russia formed the League of Armed Neutrality to handle shipping.

Which makes sense, given that post Seven Years War the balance of power had ironically shifted towards Britain, the self-proclaimed protector of the concept.
 
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