Angie Merkel’s coming for a visit again, concerned as usual.

But Obama isn’t the only source of Merkel’s concerns about America. She is also vexed over Washington’s policy,  which fluctuates between disregard for and dominance of the Germans. this isn’t just the result of the president’s personal characteristics, but of the respective roles of the two countries: the United States, a superpower being challenged by China, and Germany, which wants to be a medium power, but only plays this role economically, not politically. Merkel is confronted with this underlying conflict again and again.