A century ago, Germany was the leading power in the world.
While its the most populous country in the EU, its a shadow of its former self.
Your “shadow” analogy has different implications. They’re a big empire in search of a Caesar.
It’s ‘good’ thing that there is distancing between the EU and US....stage is getting set quite nicely.
Germany could have been the greatest countries in the world besides the United States depending on ones perspective. A German and American bond could be incredible but Germany is flushing themselves down the toilet. My heritage is mostly German and I find it a travesty what is happening to the country.