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As Angela Merkel slipped into the background in recent months as she struggled to form a government in Berlin, French President Emmanuel Macron (seen here during his visit to Berlin on Thursday), stepped to fill in the void. As a result, the chancellor's international stature has diminished in recent months.
Merkel has failed to build any kind of meaningful connection to U.S. President Donald Trump, whereas Macron has befriended the American leader. Macron has shown that it is still possible to have influence on Washington.
Rockets over Syria on early Saturday, April 14: Germany wasn't even part of the discussion between the U.S., France and Britain over the retaliatory airstrikes planned after the Assad regime's alleged use of chemical weapons. The allies knew what Germany's answer would be without even asking: Go ahead, but we're not going to participate.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (right) is believed to be in disagreement with Chancellor Merkel over how to procede on the issue of Syria. Maas is against any direct negotiations with Assad, but Merkel's team has appeared less dogmatic. Maas is pictured here at a meeting with Chrystia Freeland, his Canadian counterpart, on April 17.
Merkel used to be perceived as the politician who could be counted on for reining in outsized personalities like Vladimir Putin, pictured here together with Merkel and Macron at the G-20 summit in July in Hamburg. Today, however, her status on the global stage has diminished considerably. She neither has trusting relations with Putin nor with Trump.
