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- U.S. President Donald Trump has awarded Scott Morrison the legion of merit, a military decoration honouring “leadership in addressing global challenges”
- The award was announced in a tweet by the U.S. National Security Council on Tuesday
- Morrison isn’t the first Australian to receive the honour, following former prime minister Robert Menzies and a number of others
- India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe were awarded the decoration in the same ceremony
- Australia’s ambassador to the U.S., Arthur Sinodinos, accepted the award on Morrison’s behalf
U.S. President Donald Trump has awarded Scott Morrison the legion of merit, a military decoration honouring “leadership in addressing global challenges.”
The award was announced in a tweet by the U.S. National Security Council on Tuesday, recognising efforts to strengthen the partnership between Australia and the United States and citing Morrison’s promotion of “collective security.”
“President @realDonaldTrump awarded the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his 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 pic.twitter.com/bTJVLra0Wb
— NSC (@WHNSC) December 21, 2020
Morrison isn’t the first Australian to receive the honour. He follows former prime minister Robert Menzies, former army chiefs Angus Campbell and David Morrison, and former chief of the defence force and current governor general David Hurley.
Nor was he the only person to be honoured this time around – India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe were awarded the decoration in the same ceremony.
Australia’s ambassador to the U.S., Arthur Sinodinos, accepted the award on Morrison’s behalf.
Since he became prime minister in August 2018, Morrison has made great efforts to forge close ties with the outgoing U.S. president.
That said, while friendly relations between the two leaders are broadly considered favourable, a recent poll by the United States Studies Centre suggests that almost every demographic and political group in Australia would have voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the November 3 election.
