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'For goodness sake': Peter Dutton's awkward moment on international TV

Australia's Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton, left viewers cringing over an awkward moment with his South Korean counterpart in front of international camera crews.

Mr Dutton along with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, met with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook earlier this week in Seoul.

A clip of the moment between Mr Dutton and Minister Suh became a talking point on Thursday when a clip of the two was shared to social media, showing Mr Dutton's confusion over an elbow bump.

Peter Dutton did not know what to do when Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, Suh Wook, went in for an elbow bump. Source: Getty Images
Peter Dutton did not know what to do when Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, Suh Wook, went in for an elbow bump. Source: Getty Images

"BREAKING: Peter Dutton doesn't know how to do an elbow bump," News Fighters Podcast tweeted on Thursday and it sent Twitter into a frenzy.

The elbow bump has replaced the handshake amid the pandemic, and is something Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been very keen on.

However, it appears Mr Dutton wasn't sure what to do when Minister Suh raised his fist to offer up his elbow in front of the camera.

The Australian minister went to raise his fist to make some sort of pose, before Minister Suh corrects the error.

Mr Dutton then tries to give Minister Suh a fist bump, before Minister Suh takes his forearm and guides him into an elbow bump to pose for the cameras.

Viewers 'embarrassed' by awkward interaction

"Oh for goodness sake - can we look half credible on the international stage?" someone said in response to the video.

Some thought the interaction was "embarrassing", while plenty enjoyed the video, with one person saying it made their day.

Despite the awkward elbow moment, Mr Dutton thanked Minister Suh for his "warm collegiality and friendship" on Twitter.

"Our meetings have really reflected the strength of our bilateral arrangement, our relationship, our close co-operation, particularly on defence & security issues," he said.

"We agreed on several key outcomes; increasing joint training & military exercises, defence industry, science & technology collaboration."

Mr Dutton and Ms Payne are now in Washington, for the 31st annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations, or AUSMIN.

The prime minister is due to travel to Washington next week for a meeting of the Quad alliance of the US, India, Japan and Australia.

It will be his first US visit since Joe Biden became president.

Biden 'forgets Scott Morrison's name'

The viral video of Mr Dutton's elbow bump comes as Morrison announced Australia's first nuclear-powered submarines could be in the water before 2040 under a historic partnership with the United States and United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister hailed the new AUKUS pact as a "forever partnership" which would be the most important alliance since the 70-year-old ANZUS treaty.

Defence spending will be increased to fund the submarines and boost Australia's long-range strike capability including Hawk and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

It also appeared Mr Biden forgot Mr Morrison's name in the announcement, referring to him as the "fellow down under", "pal" and "Mr Prime Minister".

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