Tony Abbott posts priceless picture with Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, embarrasses the nation

IN THE grand tradition of PMs embarrassing us in front of world leaders, Abbott takes the most cringe-worthy picture of all time.

CANADIAN Prime Minister Stephen Harper better watch his back; Tony Abbott’s blossoming bromance with Japanese leader Shinzo Abe is threatening to overthrow the Commonwealth leader’s BFF status with our man Down Under.

Abbott was acting as tour guide while the Japanese Prime Minister was in town to sign a historic free trade agreement with Australia that could see prices fall on everything from electronics to sake.

The unlikely pair certainly hit it off, giggling over glasses of West Australian wine, getting sloppy on sake and bonding at Australia’s beautiful backdrops.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is congratulated by Tony Abbott after addressing Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Graham

Best friends forever. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

But this cringe-worthy corker posted by the PM last night has yet another Abbott embarrassment written all over it.

PM Abe wearing his gift from Australia - RM Williams boots. Both proud to be wearing them today #RMs pic.twitter.com/fxjyrSNNQz

— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) July 9, 2014

As part of the Japanese Prime Minister’s final day festivities, Mr Abbott travelled to Western Australia’s Pilbara region to show off the Japanese-Australian joint iron ore mine venture, Rio Tinto’s West Angelas.

And what better way than to part ways than with a gift of RM Williams boots, all the while atop a monstrous Komatsu 930E hauling truck tyre?

Abbott and Abe pose next to a haulage truck tyre during a tour of Rio Tinto's West Angelas iron ore mine in Pilbara, Western Australia. Picture: Alan Porritt.

Yes. This really happened. Picture: Gary Ramage.

awkward pic.twitter.com/gjZtwICuS6

— Bec (@Brocklesnitch) July 9, 2014

“Why is this strange awkward man making me do this” RT @TonyAbbottMHR: PM Abe wearing his gift - RM Williams boots pic.twitter.com/8RA02gDJz3

— Rupert H (@rpy) July 9, 2014

How the Internet was Won. RT @PPantsdown: Stop the Boots! @TonyAbbottMHR pic.twitter.com/he8mbu8sO7

— Marieke Hardy (@mariekehardy) July 9, 2014

The gift follows a long list of traditionally embarrassing gift blunders; most recently when Mr Abbott gifted President Barack Obama with a ... surfboard.

But perhaps the most cringe-worthy gift is when former Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave Mr Obama ... a green and white 2GB iPod Shuffle.

Clearly, we’re big spenders in Australia.