Merkel brushed aside as Russia takes centre-stage in fighting ISIS

This post first appeared on Russia Insider

As Europe plunges into its biggest terror crisis in its history, the obvious question is: Where is Merkel?

“The Queen of Europe” has nothing to say and is nowhere to be seen.

Her refugee policy - if it is a policy - lies discredited and in ruins.

Think of the diplomacy of the last week.

Who was centre stage? Obviously Putin.

Which of the meetings Putin had at the G20 summit attracted the most media attention?

The one with Obama obviously.

The one with Erdogan also - if for no other reason because Erdogan was the summit host and is playing a critical - and two-faced - game in the Syrian crisis.

The one with Xi Jinping too.

As always the meeting between the Chinese and Russian leaders was conducted discreetly. No one however doubts its importance. Certainly the Russians don’t.

Hollande’s meeting with Putin also inevitably attracted a lot of attention.

Given the bombings in Paris that was inevitable. However it does seem that Hollande and Putin did arrive at a genuine understanding. That explains why Putin instructed Russia’s Mediterranean fleet to cooperate with the French.

Even Cameron’s meeting with Putin has attracted some attention - if only because Cameron has been at the forefront of the attempted boycott of Russia and his meeting with Putin marks a policy shift.

What of Merkel however?

Yes she and Putin did meet. No one however is interested.

The terseness of the official Russian communique is almost cruel.

“Following a working dinner with G20 leaders, Vladimir Putin met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest.”

What a contrast to last year’s G20 summit in Brisbane, when Merkel’s meeting with Putin was centre-stage - attracting all the big analysis and media attention.

As the crisis has unfolded, outside Germany Merkel has been all but invisible.

It is not that she has not said anything. It is that no one is interested.

The self-styled Queen of Europe is not just losing her grip at home.

Worse still - for her- she is looking irrelevant.