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The US military decoration was also given to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Scott Morrison received a prestigious US military award for « Leadership in Overcoming Global Challenges » and strengthening the partnership between Australia and the United States.
Donald Trump gave the Legion of Merit to Morrison, along with past and current leaders from US allies, including Japan and India.
The awards for Morrison, Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi were presented on Monday evening in Washington by US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien.
The Legion of Merit is a US military decoration that is also given to military and political figures of foreign governments.
According to the National Security Council’s official Twitter account, Morrison’s award was « for his leadership in addressing global challenges and advancing collective security ». .
“President @realDonaldTrump awarded the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for leadership in addressing global challenges and promoting collective security. Ambassador @A_Sinodinos accepted the medal on behalf of PM Morrison. ”- NSA Robert C. . O’Brien picture. Twitter. com / bTJVLra0Wb
A spokesman for Morrison said: « The Prime Minister was honored to receive the US Legion of Merit overnight. ”
The award was received by the Australian Ambassador to the USA, Arthur Sinodinos. He said the US President had also recognized that Morrison had « strengthened the partnership between the United States and Australia ». .
I am honored to accept the U.S. Legion of Merit, awarded by @realDonaldTrump to @ScottMorrisonMP, which recognizes the Prime Minister’s leadership that « is the partnership between the United States and Australia in facing and advancing global challenges that has strengthened collective security « @WHNSC
Morrison is not the first Australian award winner. It was awarded to former Prime Minister Robert Menzies, former Army Chiefs Angus Campbell and David Morrison, and former Chief of Defense and current Governor General David Hurley, among others.
The awards for Indian Prime Minister Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Abe were also accepted by the ambassadors of these countries.
“On behalf of President @realDonaldTrump, I presented the Legion of Merit to @ScottMorrisonMP, @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo through Ambassadors @A_Sinodinos, Sugiyama @JapanEmbDC and @SandhuTaranjitS who accepted the awards. ”–NSA Robert C. . O’Brien picture. Twitter. com / hmgiQrY5RP
Modi was lauded for « strengthening the US-India strategic partnership » while Abe was recognized for « leadership and vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific ». .
Since Morrison became Prime Minister in August 2018, he has courted Trump closely and was rewarded with a formal reception on his US trip in September 2019.
During that trip, Morrison attended a Trump rally in Wapakoneta, Ohio, praising Trump’s political priorities. He expressed the view that the couple « share many of the same views ». .
Although friendly relations with the President of the United States are generally viewed as positive for the Australian Prime Minister, polls suggest that most Australians would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
After Trump’s defeat in the November presidential election, Morrison and other world leaders congratulated Biden on his victory.
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused Morrison of being « blinded and kidnapped » by Trump and warns that Morrison must change now after speaking with his US counterpart on foreign affairs and climate change » full « was the direction to avoid Australia being viewed as a » Trump-Lite Refuge in the Southern Hemisphere « .
Since Biden’s election, Australia has been increasingly isolated on climate policy as the US pursues net zero emissions, which Morrison has not nominated as Australia’s official emissions reduction target.
Australia is also embroiled in a trade dispute with China, partly motivated by Morrison’s call for World Health Organization inspectors to be given “gun inspector” powers to investigate the origin of Covid-19, a move in line with Trump’s tough rhetoric against China dealing with coronavirus.
Scott Morrison, Donald Trump, Shinzō Abe
World News – AU – Trump recognizes Scott Morrison as Legion of Merit for « leadership in overcoming global challenges »
Ref: https://www.theguardian.com
