Prime Minister Scott Morrison says US President Joe Biden does know his name

President Joe Biden, joined virtually by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on screen, listens as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaks about a national security initiative. Photo / AP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has laughed off US President Joe Biden appearing to forget his name at a major international announcement.

Morrison said "of course" the 46th US President knew his name and claimed he called him "pal" on the phone all the time.

Biden made headlines on Thursday when he stumbled over the Australian Prime Minister's name while announcing a new trilateral security partnership with Britain and Australia.

The deal will see the US share its nuclear technology that will help Australia build a multibillion-dollar fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

President Joe Biden, listens as he is joined virtually by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo / AP

The embarrassing blunder occurred when Biden turned to thank British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Morrison.

"Thank you, Boris," Biden said in front of a global audience.

"And I want to thank that fella Down Under. Thank you very much pal."

The US President then added: "Appreciate it Mr Prime Minister".

Biden eventually got it right when he turned back to face the press.

"As Prime Minister Morrison and Prime Minister Johnson said, I want to thank you for this partnership."

Speaking with 2GB radio on Friday, ScoMo assured Australians that the US President knew his name.

"He called me pal, that's how he usually refers to me on the phone too," Morrison told host Ben Fordham while laughing.

President Joe Biden, arrives and is joined virtually by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right. Photo / AP

Fordham then asked the Prime Minister if he was sure Biden did know his name.

"Of course he does," Morrison said.

The Prime Minister told Sunrise a few minutes later that he thought it was "quite funny".

"We always speak privately, he refers to me as his pal," he said.

Morrison later told Fifi, Fev & Nick on 101.9 The Fox that forgetting a name "happens to the best of us".

"He actually does refer to me privately when we speak as pal, it's a phrase that he uses a fair bit, I suppose that's mate in similar ways," he said.

The new venture, called AUKUS, will focus on technology and long-term stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The new submarines will not be armed with nuclear weapons, but will use the nuclear-powered technology used by the US and the UK.

Morrison called the new agreement a "forever partnership" to achieve the goals of stability and security in the region.