Abbott uncomfortable in proximity to Putin

Every bit of body language was evident this morning to prove it: Tony Abbott was not happy to be positioned precariously close to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC summit in Beijing.

In most photographs, the Australian Prime Minister is doing his best to look away from Putin, avoiding eye contact as much as possible. In stand-up photos, he looks like using his elbow to create distance between he and the Russian leader. And there’s even a shot of Abbott holding the collar of his Mao shirt up to his nose as if to be repelling a stench from Putin (accent on the ‘Pu’ bit, then).

This morning’s meeting was the first time the two leaders have been in close proximity to one another since the attack on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 earlier this year, after which Abbott said he wanted to “shirt-front” the Russian leader.

And speaking of shirts, we’re well aware that traditional dress for political meetings in China includes the stiff block-cut tops, pictured, but for Abbott to then go and pose as though he were boarding the Starship Enterprise, complete with Trekkie ‘peace’ symbol, makes us want to cue such lines as “Beam me up, Scottie” and “Take me to your… well, leaders”.  Antonino Tati