Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan surprised NATO leaders with an unusual diplomatic gift: engraved revolvers accompanied by live ammunition following the alliance’s summit in Ankara.
Several leaders received personalized firearms in red cases, each carrying their name along with six bullets and documentation stating the weapons were exempt from export restrictions. The unexpected gifts created challenges for security teams responsible for handling and transporting the firearms.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first leaders to reveal the gift, describing it as an unusual item presented during the summit. Other officials said the firearms required special procedures due to strict regulations surrounding international transport of weapons.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s team handed his revolver to airport police after discovering the nature of the gift upon returning home. The weapons given to European Union officials were also secured and handled according to protocol, with plans to decommission at least one and donate it to a military museum.
Some leaders chose not to immediately take the firearms out of Turkey, as moving operational weapons across borders can involve complex legal requirements. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly kept the revolver but left the ammunition behind in Turkey.
The gifts came after a NATO summit focused on major international issues, including the war in Ukraine, tensions involving Iran, and relations with US President Donald Trump.
While exchanging gifts between world leaders is common during diplomatic meetings, the decision to present functional firearms raised questions among several delegations about the purpose behind such an unusual gesture.
