How NATO leaders reacted to Erdoğan’s elaborate firearm gift
NATO Heads of State Receive Ornate Revolvers from Turkish President Following 2026 Summit
How NATO leaders reacted to Erdoğan - During the recent alliance gathering in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented each participating leader with a distinctive vintage firearm as a farewell present. The summit, held between July 7 and 8, 2026, brought together allies who reaffirmed their dedication to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Each of the recipients was given a specially engraved Magnum .357 revolver accompanied by live rounds, all housed within an elegant wooden presentation case.
The personalization extended beyond mere names; every weapon bore the Turkish flag alongside the recipient's identity. A notable feature included an official waiver allowing the firearms to bypass standard export restrictions. The display case itself carried an inscription identifying the piece as "Gümüşay, the first revolver-type handgun produced in our country," highlighting its domestic manufacturing heritage.
German Chancellor's Diplomatic Gesture
Chancellor Friedrich Merz chose to entrust his revolver to the German Embassy located in Ankara. According to reports from the German Press Agency, the embassy will coordinate the weapon's journey back to Berlin. Once it arrives in the German capital, the firearm will join the nation's official collection of diplomatic presents. A government representative explained the process to DPA, noting that the embassy would handle proper import procedures before adding the revolver to the inventory of state gifts.
German regulations impose certain limitations on public officials accepting presents connected to their official roles. Current and former government members must report such items to authorities, who then determine appropriate usage. Parliamentary members face similar requirements, needing to declare gifts received during their duties to the Speaker of Parliament. When a gift's material worth surpasses €200, members must surrender it but can retain possession by paying the equivalent amount to the Federal Treasury.
European Leaders' Varied Approaches
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the revolver had been transferred to the Interior Ministry. The Guardia Civil's Weapons Intervention Service will oversee the deactivation process. Meanwhile, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro reportedly handed his firearm to police authorities for comprehensive forensic examination. A source within Montenegro's office informed Público that the security team transported the weapon to Portugal, where it now rests with the police's Weapons and Explosives Department pending legal review.
Marcin Przydacz, Poland's Secretary of State, stated that the revolver would be secured in an appropriate storage location to ensure both safety and respectful treatment. He confirmed that customs clearance had been completed successfully and all necessary inspections passed. Przydacz acknowledged receiving the gift from Turkey's president but expressed uncertainty regarding whether his piece was an authentic original or a replica. He added with certainty that no one would be shooting the firearm.
Belgium's prime minister reportedly experienced surprise upon learning the precise nature of his gift only after returning home. Bart De Wever is said to have surrendered the weapon to airport police immediately upon arrival. His security personnel also managed the revolvers presented to European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa. Von der Leyen took to social media platform X to express gratitude for Erdoğan's "warm welcome," emphasizing the strengthened importance of EU-Turkey relations in today's complex global landscape.
Additional Recipients' Decisions
Italian government sources confirmed that the prime minister's revolver was taken into custody and formally registered at the Chigi Palace, following standard protocol for all head-of-government presents. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis opted to donate his revolver to the Athens War Museum, ensuring its preservation for public display.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly left his firearm in Turkey with British officials. The weapon is expected to undergo deactivation procedures before eventually traveling to the United Kingdom. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney humorously remarked that his country's traditional gift of maple syrup seemed inadequate compared to the vintage weapon. He noted that the revolver would be decommissioned and suggested it belonged in a war museum, adding that its connection to NATO made it particularly meaningful.
"In a more challenging world, our partnership matters more than ever," von der Leyen wrote in her social media post.
"It is true that the President of Turkey presented each of his guests with a gift of this kind. I do not know exactly whether it is a replica or an original. Certainly, no one will be firing it," Przydacz stated.