A clash between Angela Merkel and Donald Trump appears unavoidable after Germany signalled that it will make climate change, free trade and the management of forced mass global migration the key themes of the G20 Summit in Hamburg next week.
The G20 Summit brings together the world's biggest economies, representing 85% of global gross domestic product (GDP), and Merkel's chosen agenda looks likely to maximise American isolation while attempting to minimise disunity amongst others.
The meeting, which is set to be the scene of large-scale street protests, will also mark the first meeting between Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, as world leaders.
Trump has already rowed with Europe once over climate change and refugees at the G7 Summit in Italy, and now looks set to repeat the experience in Hamburg but on a bigger stage, as India and China join in the criticism of Washington.
Last week, the new UN secretary-general, António Guterres, warned the Trump team if the US disengages from too many issues confronting the international community it will be replaced as world leader.
On climate change, Merkel has prepared the ground carefully, hosting in Berlin the two allies she most needs – the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang.
China is the single largest emitter of carbon, and India the third. If they followed America in rejecting the Paris agreement, the whole process would unravel. Both countries have said they will not pull out of the treaty, and will beat their Paris commitments. Germany insists it is not seeking confrontation at the Summit. Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister, points out there will be many far more rightwing governments present in Hamburg than Trump, and they will receive far less obloquy from the expected tens of thousands of street protesters.
Nor does he pretend his country wishes to set itself up as a rival to America, saying Germany has got enough responsibilities already.