Turkish President Erdogan Gifts NATO Leaders Personalized Pistols at Ankara Summit

At the conclusion of the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented each NATO leader with a personalized pistol engraved with their name, accompanied by a box of ammunition. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed this unusual gift during a press conversation on his flight back to the UK. Due to British laws prohibiting firearm imports, Starmer was unable to bring the pistol home and left it at the British embassy in Ankara, where it will remain until it is decommissioned. Erdogan also included a personal note intended to facilitate the export process of the weapons from Turkey.

Erdogan described the NATO summit as "historic" and "successful," emphasizing that it laid the groundwork for a stronger alliance with a more balanced distribution of responsibilities among member states. He expressed particular gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he referred to as a "dear friend."

The summit featured a reception with soldiers dressed as the elite Ottoman Janissaries, a gesture that impressed several leaders familiar with the unit's history. Trump praised the hospitality and infrastructure in Turkey, rating Erdogan's dinner hosting as "10 out of 10, maybe even 12," and complimented the country's improved roads and overall development under Erdogan's leadership.