This year would mark the third year that the president of the United States of America, the world’s biggest economy and top military power, is outranked in Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful people. In the magazine’s 7th annual ranking, the president of Russia once again takes the top spot while the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, leapfrogged to the 2nd spot from number 5 spot last year, snatching the 2nd spot that was occupied by Obama in 2014.
This newest edition of the magazine’s famous ranking was published only weeks after Putin ordered the Russian involvement in the war in Syria through air strikes, and after he welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Russian capital.
Gutsy Putin, Outmaneuvered Obama
Forbes notes how Obama’s influence has clearly shrunk in the final year of his presidency. He is even struggling to get things done right at his home turf. Americans have given him approval ratings lower than 50%, a stark contrast to Putin’s ‘more than 80% despite the falling Russian economy and global condemnation of his annexation of Crimea. Forbes adds that Merkel is doing a great job standing out in Europe while Putin has outmaneuvered him in the Middle East.
The Russian president’s efforts in Syria is perceived as an attempt to gain back global influence after the West attempted to isolate Russia with numerous sanctions in response to Russia’s actions over Ukraine. With Putin’s recent actions in Syria, Forbes notes that he has proven that he is one of the few people in the world who has the power to do what he wants and get away with it. He has made the United States and NATO seemingly weak as he has overcome the effects of the multiple sanctions. The Russian economy may not be recovering yet but he has already managed to somehow project Russian influence abroad.
Other Notable Personalities in the Ranking
The spiritual leader Pope Francis has maintained his ranking at number 4 as he continues to transform the image of the Catholic Church. The President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, dropped a couple of notches from number 3 in 2014 as China’s economic behemoth is slowing down. Still, he holds the distinction, at least according to some observers, as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. The prime minister of the United Kingdom climbed two steps up to number 8 as he now presides over the UK’s only conservative majority government in more than two decades. India’s prime minister, Narenda Modi, makes a big jump from number 15 last year to number 9 as he brought a 7.4% GDP growth in his first year in office.
The United States Federal Reserve chair, Janet Yellen, is the 7th most powerful person of the world according to Forbes. On the other hand, two of the world’s richest men are included in this year’s top 10. Bill Gates is now on number 6 from number 7 last year, while Google (Alphabet) CEO Larry Page takes the number 10 spot. Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank, fell three notches down to number 11. Warren Buffett and Carlos Slim Helu also slightly dipped in the rankings to 14th and 15threspectively.
Image credit:Kremlin.ru [CC BY 3.0 or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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