Turkish President Erdogan Gifts NATO Leaders Revolvers Amid Tense Ankara Summit

The NATO summit held in Ankara in July 2026 became notable not only for intense debates over defense budgets and Greenland's future but also for an unusual diplomatic gesture by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. While global leaders discussed security concerns, Erdogan surprised attendees by presenting each NATO leader with a Turkish-made Sarsilmaz SR 38 revolver engraved with their names, accompanied by a box of live ammunition.

This provocative gift caused legal and logistical challenges, particularly for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who revealed on his return flight that he had to leave his personalized revolver in Turkey due to the United Kingdom's strict gun laws, which prohibit the import and possession of such firearms. Despite Erdogan including a signed document waiving Turkish export restrictions, it did not exempt Starmer from British regulations, resulting in the weapon remaining in Turkey for decommissioning.

The gift came amid an already tense atmosphere at the summit, marked by aggressive statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding control over Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly responded that "Greenland is not for sale." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attempted to maintain calm and reaffirm U.S. commitment to the alliance, but Erdogan's "gun diplomacy" overshadowed these efforts and left the international community questioning the underlying message of the gesture.