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Australian newspapers were quick to pick up US President Joe Biden&rsquo;s gaffe when he thanked their prime minister for joining a major new defence alliance, AUKUS, but appeared to suddenly forget his name at a crucial moment in the announcement and referred to him merely as &ldquo;that fellow Down Under.&rdquo;</p>
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In his televised announcement from the White House, Biden stood amid large video displays of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australia&#39;s PM Scott Morrison, both of whom took part remotely.</p>
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&quot;Thank you, Boris and… and I want to thank that fellow Down Under. Thank you very much, pal. Appreciate it, Mr Prime Minister,&quot; Biden said as he revealed the agreement to equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.</p>
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Biden recovered after this as he proceeded with his speech and correctly identified the Australian leader, who had earlier responded to the faux pas with a smile and a thumbs up.</p>
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<strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/us-uk-equipping-australia-with-nuclear-submarines-as-aukus-alliance-is-born-to-counter-china-115096.html">US, UK equipping Australia with nuclear submarines as AUKUS alliance is born to counter China</a></p>
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However, the Australian press was not as forgiving.</p>
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&quot;&#39;Thanks pal&#39;: Biden appears to forget Morrison&#39;s name,&quot; read a headline in the Cairns Post.</p>
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The defence deal &quot;may not have got off to the shining start for which Morrison hoped, of course, when US President Joe Biden appeared to forget his name at the crucial moment&quot;, said an analysis by the Sydney Morning Herald.</p>
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The apparent gaffe opened a window into the &quot;little-brother nature of Australia&#39;s position among the powers&quot;, the newspaper pointed out.</p>
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But an analysis by James Morrow at Sydney&#39;s Daily Telegraph said the awkward moment could not overshadow the importance of the deal, struck at a time of rising Chinese military influence in the Asia-Pacific region.</p>
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&quot;Not even Joe Biden forgetting the name of &#39;that fellow Down Under&#39; could mar the importance of what has just played out over the last 12 hours,&quot; Morrow wrote.</p>
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