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Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, was criticised on Twitter on Thursday after a video emerged of him standing alone during a meeting of NATO leaders. Johnson is seen standing awkwardly alone as European Union (EU) leaders shake hands. However, a lengthier video eventually circulated on social media that showed the UK Prime Minister having a pleasant conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and shaking his hand.
The short film showed Macron and other EU leaders greeting each other happily before a NATO family photo, with Johnson staring on with his hands in his pockets, causing a Twitter meltdown.
Our British Lion 🦁
Boris Johnson loved by #Ukraine️ & universally recognised as leader of the free world stands proudly in front of other leaders at The NATO Summit.
He doesn’t join in with trivial chit chat
He is on a mission to defeat Russia.
Hero🇬🇧💪pic.twitter.com/wDR7lPrjRZ— Sir Michael Take CBE (@MichaelTakeMP) March 24, 2022
Our British Lion 🦁
Boris Johnson loved by #Ukraine️ & universally recognised as leader of the free world stands proudly in front of other leaders at The NATO Summit.
He doesn’t join in with trivial chit chat
He is on a mission to defeat Russia.
Hero🇬🇧💪pic.twitter.com/wDR7lPrjRZ— Sir Michael Take CBE (@MichaelTakeMP) March 24, 2022
In the 26-second video, Macron can be seen standing just a few feet away from Johnson, shaking hands with leaders around him and waiting for a greeting from him.
A Twitter user described himself as “Mr Lonely.” “I enjoyed his wave at the end when the sausage rolls arrived on the hospitality trolley,” said another.
Some users also referred to the United Kingdom as a “embarrassment” in the eyes of world leaders, as well as the image of a “global Britain.”
Due to earlier stories of both Mr Johnson and Mr Macron making disparaging remarks about each other, the short video became a Twitter hot topic. Mr Johnson warned Mr Macron in September last year to “get a grip” over the cancellation of a defence deal owing to a UK-US-Australia pact. Then, according to The Guardian, Macron dubbed Mr Johnson a “clown” in private in December.
However, Forbes and other publications published the whole video of the NATO meeting a few hours later, showing the UK Prime Minister chatting to other EU leaders and greeting US President Joe Biden. Even the French Prime Minister shook his hand.
“Show the entire video and then we’ll see who’s having an awkward moment,” a Twitter user stated after sharing the entire clip.
Show the whole video and then we'll see who's having an awkward moment.https://t.co/HpTYxATWTG
— pabel (@Pabel5Pabel) March 24, 2022
Social media users widely shared the “undoctored version” of the clip, claiming that the truth had been revealed. Since the Brexit referendum in 2016, the UK’s relations with other EU members have deteriorated.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convened the emergency meeting to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The leaders agreed to beef up their eastern flank in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine during their meeting in Brussels, and warned Moscow against using chemical weapons.
They also decided to form four more battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as warn China against supporting Russia’s war.
