How NATO Leaders Reacted to Erdogan's Revolver Gift
The gifts highlighted Turkiye’s arms industry, which was the world’s third-largest small-arms exporter from 2019 to 2024, the Small Arms Survey said.
- After Wednesday's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented each leader with an unusual parting gift: a vintage revolver accompanied by live ammunition to showcase the nation's defense industry.
- Turkiye, the world's third-largest small arms exporter, sought to highlight its manufacturing capabilities with the vintage Gumusay model. The country's exports totaled about $3 billion between 2019 and 2024, challenging Italian and Belgian manufacturers.
- Security teams faced logistical challenges as some leaders discovered the loaded firearms only upon returning home. Sir Keir Starmer received 500 bullets, while Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever handed his to airport police for safekeeping.
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "expressed her thanks" to Erdogan for the gift, planning to donate it to a military museum. Polish President Karol Nawrocki's revolver remains at Warsaw Airport awaiting customs clearance.
- The unexpected presents caused "insane" scenes among security delegations accustomed to traditional summit protocols. While intended as a defense-industry showcase, the functional weapons created significant security and procedural headaches for alliance members across Europe.
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Protocolarno darilo s težo in simboličnim pomenom, that katerem ne želi špekulirati nihče. Turški predsednik Erdogan je na nedavnem vrhu zveze Nato v Ankari poskrbel, da so zavezniki srečanje zapustili bolj oboroženi, kot so nanj prišli. Prav vsak je dobil revolver kalibra 357 Magnum, naboje in čistilni set za orožje. Kaj so o nenavadnem darilu povedali državniki, kaj bo z njim storil Janez Janša?
Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, did not expect to receive a firearm by going to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
At the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended with a special guest gift for all Heads of State and Government.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Western leaders came to Turkey to talk about security in an increasingly dangerous world. Each came out of the meeting with a revolver and six cartridges.
It is customary to give gifts, whether for Christmas or a state visit, and the rules for giving a good or bad gift are almost the same in both situations.
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Erdogan’s Gift of Engraved Revolvers to NATO Leaders Sparks Surprise and Diplomatic Dilemmas
An unexpected gift presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to world leaders attending this week’s NATO summit has generated widespread discussion across diplomatic circles, with several leaders forced to surrender, deactivate or donate the presents because of strict firearms regulations in their home countries.
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