Erdogan Gifts Revolvers to NATO Leaders at Ankara Summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifted .357 Magnum revolvers, each paired with six bullets, to NATO leaders during the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara. The gesture created immediate logistical and diplomatic challenges for several visiting heads of state due to strict firearm transport laws.

U.S. President Donald Trump accepted his firearm, but most European leaders sought ways to avoid transporting the weapons. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney surrendered his weapon to police, while Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever turned his over to airport police upon arriving in Belgium. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's spokesperson announced that her gift would be decommissioned and donated to a military museum.

Other leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, opted to leave their revolvers in the Turkish capital to comply with legal restrictions.