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Erdoğan gave NATO leaders personalized pistols and ammunition
British Prime Minister Starmer revealed that Erdoğan gave leaders at the summit pistols engraved with their names, ammunition, and an export exemption certificate. Starmer was unable to bring the gift into the country due to British laws.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifted participating leaders custom-made pistols engraved with their names and ammunition boxes at the NATO summit in Ankara.
Speaking to reporters on his flight back to the UK, Starmer said that alongside the gift, Erdoğan also provided a signed document exempting the weapon from Turkish export restrictions.
However, the British prime minister noted that due to his country's strict gun laws, he was unable to bring the gift into the UK and ensured the pistol was left in Turkey and rendered inoperable.
In the UK, handgun ownership was almost completely banned after a school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland, in 1996 that killed 16 children and a teacher.
It is unclear whether other NATO leaders faced similar legal issues; however, Germany reportedly treated the gift as an official state gift, with German officials directing the weapon to their embassy in Ankara to start the import process.
The gifts were given during the NATO summit held in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026, where issues such as member states' defense spending, support for Ukraine, and military cooperation were discussed.
The gesture is seen as a symbol of Turkey's rapidly growing defense industry in recent years.
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