Macron Gets 'Spun Like A Beyblade' By Erdogan In Awkward Handshake At NATO | Watch

Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 17:57 IST

In the footage, Macron is seen walking up to Erdogan with a casual air, extending his hand for a handshake while lightly patting the Turkish president’s right arm

In a swift countermove, Erdogan places his left hand firmly on Macron’s back and, without breaking the handshake, smoothly swivels him around in a semi-circular motion.

A brief yet awkward interaction between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron has caught widespread attention on social media.

The incident took place on Wednesday during their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. A video clip of the greeting, shared by Russia’s RT network, quickly went viral.

The caption accompanying the video read, “Macron tried to outmuscle Erdogan in a handshake again… and got spun like a Beyblade. French President tried to flex — but Erdogan’s countermove said: ‘Weren’t you taught to respect your elders?’"

In the footage, Macron is seen walking up to Erdogan with a casual air, extending his hand for a handshake while lightly patting the Turkish president’s right arm. Erdogan, however, meets the gesture with a firm grip, locking Macron’s hand tightly.

In a swift countermove, he places his left hand firmly on Macron’s back and, without breaking the handshake, smoothly swivels him around in a semi-circular motion, almost a full 180 degrees. The manoeuvre momentarily throws Macron off balance, as Erdogan guides him to face the cameras, all while maintaining the clenched handshake. The interaction, though brief, appeared more like a subtle power play than a standard diplomatic greeting.

A similar moment drew attention in May, when a video from the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Albania showed another awkward exchange between the two leaders.

In the clip, Erdogan can be seen gripping President Macron’s hand and gently patting it. The situation takes a curious turn when Macron, unaware of what’s to come, extends his other hand towards Erdogan in a friendly gesture.

As Macron tries to withdraw his hand, Erdogan — while casually exchanging a few words — firmly holds on to the French President’s middle finger. For the next 13 seconds, Macron appears visibly uncomfortable, standing and talking while attempting to free his hand, as Erdogan, still seated, continues to hold onto the finger before finally letting go.

ALSO READ: ‘What’s Wrong With Her’: Giorgia Meloni’s ‘Strange’ Facial Expressions At NATO Go Viral

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News viral Macron Gets 'Spun Like A Beyblade' By Erdogan In Awkward Handshake At NATO | Watch