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In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was mystified by May's metamorphosis from a quiet "remain" supporter to what seemed like a passionate crusader for a hard break from Europe, according to people in her entourage. The British seemed intent on "talking themselves into isolation," an official close to the chancellor said.
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A central problem for May's government is that Article 50 puts the country that is exiting the EU in a position of great weakness, says Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a think tank in London. EU countries can simply hunker down while the two-year clock ticks away, raising pressure on the leaver.

May, therefore, would be wise to avoid an approach that alienates the EU, Grant believes. Attempts from the British side to strengthen its negotiating position through veiled threats to slash corporate tax rates or veto European defense cooperation risk backfiring.

"If Britain wants a decent deal, it will need a massive amount of goodwill from its EU partners. And for this you need to keep the negotiations technocratic and serious," Grant said. "The diplomats understand this, but I'm not sure anyone else does."

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