US President Joe Biden appeared to forget Scott Morrison’s name while announcing America and Britain will help Australia build a nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
The prime minister joined Mr Biden and British PM Boris Johnson in a historic three-way press conference to unveil the ‘AUKUS’ alliance to counter the worrying rise of China in the Pacific.
But Mr Biden seemed lost recalling his Australian Mr Morrison’s name as he thanked the other two leaders who spoke before him.
‘Thank you Boris, and I want to thank…’ he began, before an awkward pause in which he turned and pointed to the screen with Mr Morrison’s smiling face.
‘That fella Down Under… Thank you very much pal… Appreciate it Mr Prime Minister,’ he continued.
Australia will follow its allies the US and UK, which both use nuclear technology, by building its own nuclear-powered submarine fleet
Media commentators were quick to point out the ‘awkward’ gaffe that slightly overshadowed the monumental declaration.
‘A very political announcement,’ Today show host Karl Stefanovic said after the press conference was aired live.
‘But that fella from Down Under, I mean totally awks.’
Political editor Chris Uhlmann replied: ‘Almost as awkward as the acronym AUUKUS, Australia, United Kingdom and United States.’
Americans, Australians, and Britons quickly flocked to social media to have a chuckle at the bizarre moment.
‘Just a public speaking tip – if you’re going to mention someone by name WRITE IT DOWN,’ one American woman Tweeted.
‘How did you not remember the prime minister’s name? That was honestly so embarrassing.’
British journalist Graeme Demianyk wrote: ‘Biden calls the Australian prime minister “that fella down under” and tosses in a “thank you very much, pal”.’
‘I’m definitely a “thanks, mate” kind of guy if I forget someone’s name.’
‘AUKUS getting off to a great start with Biden not knowing Scott Morrison’s name,’ another wrote.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday morning unveiled Australia’s role in a historic tripartite security group alongside US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
The deal will mean Australia will walk away from its controversial deal to spend up to $90 billion buying French diesel-powered submarines.
This is the first time Australia has ever embraced nuclear power after decades of debate – and the first time the US and UK have shared their nuclear submarine technology with another nation.
Mr Morrison said though Australia has no plans to acquire nuclear weapons or build its own nuclear power capabilities.
Australia has at least 40 per cent of the world’s uranium supplies and the new submarine deal could pave the way for the country to embrace nuclear power to drastically reduce carbon emissions.
The move towards a nuclear Australia has been described as ‘China’s worst nightmare’ in a strategic bid to counter its influence in the region – especially in the South China Sea.
‘Our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region – the Indo-Pacific. This affects us all. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures,’ Mr Morrison said.
HMAS Rankin conducts helicopter transfers in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia in February
Pictured: The USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) is seen firing the 5-inch gun for Naval Surface Fire Support during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 in Queensland
‘To meet these challenges, to help deliver the security and stability our region needs, we must now take our partnership to a new level.
‘So AUUKUS is born – a partnership where our technology, our scientists, our industry, our defence forces, are all working together to deliver a safer and more secure region that ultimately benefits all.’
Mr Morrison said the submarines would be built in Adelaide in co-operation with the US and the UK.
Thursday’s announcement came just days before Mr Morrison travels to Washington for the first in-person summit of the four ‘Quad’ nations – Australia, US, Japan, and India.
Australia’s relationship with China has become increasingly hostile ever since Mr Morrison demanded an inquiry into the origins of the Covid pandemic, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Arbitrary bans and trade tariffs were imposed on billions of dollars worth of key Australian exports to China including barley, wine, beef, cotton, seafood, coal, cobber and timber.
Australia is now set to follow its allies the US and UK, who both use nuclear technology, with speculation it would tear up the submarine deal with France.
Senior Australian ministers were involved in a flurry of late-night meetings on the top-secret shipbuilding program on Wednesday, with Anthony Albanese and other senior Labor MPs briefed on the matter.
The move has been described as ‘China’s Worst Nightmare’ in a strategic bid to counter its influence in the region
China has inflamed tensions in the South China Sea in recent years by expanding its claimed territory, to the objection of its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific
The prime minister reportedly held concerns French-owned shipbuilder Naval Group would be unable to deliver submarines until 2030 with deadline and price disputes.
Mr Morrison reportedly tried to speak with the French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday regarding the new deal.
News of Australia’s decision was instead reportedly disclosed to Paris by the secretary of the Defence Department, Greg Moriarty, the ABC reported.
The Australian Naval Institute has repeatedly criticised the troubled French submarine project while welcoming the use of nuclear technology.
‘With regional tensions increasing, then building our own one-off type submarines which will arrive in the early 2030s is not good enough. We have no guarantee they will work,’ the article stated.
‘When we built the Collins class submarines (at exorbitant expense) they did not work properly for several years.
‘Instead we should buy 12 of a proven design which is already in the water. We want long-range hunter-killer vessels. We also want them to be able to stay submerged for long periods to avoid detection. Nuclear does this in spades.’
It is speculated the US had planned to operate some of its nuclear submarines from Perth’s naval base HMAS Stirling.
Pictured: The Sheean in Tasmania in April. The deal will mean Australia will walk away from its controversial deal to spend up to $90 billion buying French diesel-powered submarines
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) made the major security announcement on Thursday morning
The UK, which also uses nuclear technology, is expected to support Australia with the move in the three-nation security pact.
Sources say plan is a move to counter China’s rise in the technology and military sectors.
It is one of a string of initiatives designed to demonstrate Washington’s global role after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Biden will next week host his first in-person summit of leaders of the Quad nations — made up of Australia, India, Japan, and the US — which have been coordinating against China’s growing reach.
‘Hosting the leaders of the Quad demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration’s priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific, including through new multilateral configurations to meet the challenges of the 21st century,’ US press secretary Jen Psaki said.
Mr Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will attend.
She added the leaders will discuss Covid-19, the climate crisis, emerging technologies, and promoting a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ – diplomatic speak for countering China’s ambitions.
Leaders will be focused on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas such as combatting the pandemic, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Bill Hagerty, Republican senator and former ambassador to Japan, welcomed the plan after the ‘debacle’ of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
‘Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal debacle made India’s neighborhood more dangerous & raises legitimate questions for Japan and Australia as well, so it’s good we will be hosting Quad partners soon,’ he wrote on Twitter.
Officials are increasingly concerned at the way China is laying claim to the South China Sea, ignoring other nations territorial claims (pictured, Chinese troops marching during a military parade in Tiananmen Square in Beijing)
‘We must repair & renew our alliances, and this one is key.’
Officials are increasingly concerned at the way China is laying claim to the South China Sea, ignoring other nations territorial claims.
Under current international law Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, China and Taiwan all claim a portion of the South China Sea.
A Congressional report from earlier in July found China ‘gaining effective control’ of the region in recent years, which is rich in oil and natural gas deposits, by increasing their military presence and building up artificial islands.
As a result, the US and allies make frequent ‘freedom of navigation’ voyages through international waters in the region, drawing angry rebukes from Beijing.