Erdogan gave pistols to NATO leaders, Starmer says
Each pistol was engraved with a leader’s name and paired with live ammunition, while Canada and the UK said the gifts would be left or decommissioned.
- On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gifted personalized revolvers and live ammunition to NATO leaders departing the Ankara summit, with the Prime Minister's Office confirming all attendees received the unusual parting gift.
- The summit served as a farewell for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation and will be replaced by Andy Burnham, potentially setting the stage for future NATO diplomacy in Turkey.
- Recipients included Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa, each receiving a revolver engraved with their name.
- Starmer left his pistol in Turkey because importing it would be illegal under UK law, while Canadian officials transferred Carney's revolver to the RCMP for decommissioning with ammunition left behind.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's pistol will remain at the German Embassy in Ankara pending legal export, while Canadian authorities plan to find an appropriate placement for their gift, possibly donating it to a museum.
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Erdogan gifts revolvers to Nato leaders, prompting customs and security questions
Erdogan gifts revolvers to Nato leaders, prompting customs and security questions Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/09/2026 - 19:36 The Turkish president reportedly gave leaders personalised revolvers with live ammunition after the Ankara summit This handout photo, taken on 9 July 2026, shows a revolver offered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, with the president's name engraved, including live …
It is a guest gift for shooting: with revolvers and ammunition, Turkish President Erdoğan thanked the high-ranking guests of the NATO summit in Ankara - and presented some of them with great problems.
The Prime Minister has received a "handgun" as a gift from the President of Turkey. Jyllands-Posten has asked what she will do with it.
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