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Sydney: Australians squirmed Thursday as US President Joe Biden thanked their prime minister for joining a serious new defence alliance — but seemed to forget his name Instead of being feted by name for his role within the US-Britain-Australia agreement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was initially relegated to being “that fellow Down Under”.
At a televised White House announcement, Biden was flanked by large video displays of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australia’s Morrison, who each took part remotely Thank you, Boris and… and that i want to thank that fellow Down Under. many thanks considerably , pal. Appreciate it, Mr Prime Minister,” Biden said as he revealed an agreement which will equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.
Biden appeared to recover as he then turned to his formal remarks and properly identified the Australian leader, who had earlier skilled the apparent gaffe with a smile and a thumbs up. But it had been too late for a few “‘Thanks pal’: Biden appears to forget Morrison’s name,” ran a headline within the Cairns Post.
The defence deal “may not have gotten off to the shining start that Morrison hoped, of course, when US President Joe Biden seemed to forget his name at the crucial moment”, said an analysis by the Sydney Morning Herald The apparent gaffe opened a window into the “little-brother nature of Australia’s position among the powers”, the paper said.
But an analysis by James Morrow at Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said the awkward moment couldn’t overshadow the importance of the deal, struck at a time of rising Chinese military influence within the Asia-Pacific region Not even Joe Biden forgetting the name of ‘that fellow Down Under’ could mar the importance of what has just played out over the last 12 hours,” he wrote.
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