World leaders gifted Erdogan’s vintage revolvers after NATO summit

The Belgian Prime Minister was a little surprised, upon his return from the NATO summit in Turkey, to find that he had a handgun and ammunition in his luggage.

After NATO leaders gathered Wednesday for the heated summit in Ankara, their host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, presented each with an unusual farewell gift: a vintage revolver, complete with live ammunition, signaling that it wasn’t just for show.

This gift was supposed to be a showcase of the Turkish defense industry, which has become a key tool in exports and foreign policy.

According to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, Turkey was the world’s third-largest exporter of small arms between 2019 and 2024, with exports totaling around $3 billion over the period, behind the United States and Italy.

Turkey’s modern handgun industry focuses on semi-automatics, making this model offered to executives a curiosity for collectors.

Turkish gunmakers have established themselves in Europe’s civilian firearms market with inexpensive pistols and shotguns, challenging older Italian and Belgian names long associated with more expensive sporting and service weapons.

According to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, Turkey was the world’s third-largest exporter of small arms between 2019 and 2024, with exports totaling around $3 billion over the period, behind the United States and Italy.

A collector’s gift bag

Images shared by the office of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda showed what is believed to be the Gumusay .357 Magnum, a rare model produced by Turkish arms manufacturer MKE in the 1990s.

It was presented in a wooden presentation box emblazoned with the flag of Turkey and the NATO logo.

Each handgun was monogrammed with the leader’s name, as well as a sentimental message engraved on a sign in the gift box.

“Gumusay, the first revolver-type handgun produced in our country.“

Leaders react

An aide to Polish President Karol Nawrocki told RMF FM radio that his revolver was awaiting customs clearance at Warsaw airport and would be kept in a suitable place “so that it is first safe and then considered as a gift.”

“Certainly no one will shoot it.“

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s spokesman said all leaders had received the same template.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever handed it over to Brussels airport police for safekeeping in a safe.

The offices of the Dutch and Swedish prime ministers said their revolvers had been transported to their respective embassies in Ankara.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten’s weapon was to be neutralized, while that of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is awaiting import documents.

The weapon given to Britain’s Sir Keir Starmer came with a cleaning kit and 500 bullets, a Downing Street source said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s revolver was already stored at the government headquarters, Palazzo Chigi.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intended to donate the weapon to a military museum.

Reuters

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