By TIME Photo
![Australia G-20 U.S. President Barack Obama, from left, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe share a three-way handshake at the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia on Nov. 16, 2014.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan (2nd R) Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan (2nd R)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![U.S. President Barack Obama extends his hand to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York U.S. President Barack Obama extends a hand to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 28, 2015.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings on Nov. 10, 2014 in Beijing.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Obama welcomes Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani as he plays host to leaders and delegations from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at the White House in Washington U.S. President Barack Obama welcomes Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, of Bahrain, while hosting leaders and delegations from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at the White House in Washington on May 13, 2015.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 70th Anniversary Of The D-Day Landings Are Commemorated In Normandy Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany during D-Day anniversary celebrations on June 6, 2014 in Deauville, France.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Visits China Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, left, meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People on Aug. 26, 2014 in Beijing.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![RUSSIA-G20-SUMMIT Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands at the G20 summit in Saint Petersburg on Sept. 5, 2013.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/world-leaders-politician-awkward-handshakes-g20-apec-photos-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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