How do I protect my colony from their colony?

[CraftyScreen]

Portuguese Australia attacked my Cherokee Australia. Somehow, that did not make them at war with me, Cherokee.

They are not afraid enough of me to Enforce Peace. However, if I attack them anyway, then I'm at war with Portugal, which is a colossus.

How is it a Portuguese colony got to attack my colony? How can I defend my colony from their colony without provoking a huge war?

 

[rmc]

The only way to defend you colony without getting to fight is subsidising the war. Which may, or may not work. If the situation is out of control you enforce peace and go to arms.

 

[Alsn]

If your colony ends up winning the war Portugal will enforce peace anyway. Which means you should prepare for war with Portugal.

Edit: Also, if you win it, take every single australian province so that it doesn't happen again, because if you don't, it will.

 

[Amroth]

Colonial nations can have there own wars, they do it quite often.

 

[Sorellis]

Remember that the AI is very bad a sieging the war goal in colonial wars. If you can beat up Portuguese Australia you should be able to win the war regardless of how big Portugal is.