Erdogan Hands Out $50B in NATO Deals and Revolvers to 32 Leaders – Von der Leyen, Sanchez, Starmer Now Stuck With Guns
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave each of the 32 NATO leaders a personalized Gumusay .357 Magnum revolver and ammunition at the Ankara summit, creating a massive security and legal headache for heads of state from Spain to Canada [191905][192061][191757].
The summit, held under a strained atmosphere, saw US President Donald Trump publicly call Spain a “terrible partner,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrive late, and the Czech Republic send a deputy after a court decided which official would represent the country [192182]. Despite the tensions, the alliance announced new defense contracts worth over $50 billion [191905].
Erdogan’s gift—a revolver engraved with each recipient’s name, presented in a wooden display case with a Turkish flag note—caught many delegations off guard [191905]. Transporting working firearms across borders is legally complex, leaving leaders scrambling for solutions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s spokesperson said the weapon will be “transported and stored safely” and eventually donated to a military museum [191905]. European Council President Antonio Costa’s team is following Belgian procedures to bring the revolver back and decommission it [191905]. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever learned what the gift was only after landing in Belgium and immediately handed it to airport police [191905].
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s revolver is now under the custody of Spain’s Civil Guard, which will disable it before inventory and storage [191905]. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer left his weapon in Ankara; British officials will make it unable to fire before sending it to the UK [191905][192061]. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gave his revolver to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for deactivation, while the ammunition stayed in Turkey [191905].
Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s revolver is awaiting customs clearance, with an advisor saying it will be stored safely and treated with respect as a gift, adding: “What is certain is that no one will fire it” [191905]. The Netherlands and Sweden sent their pistols to their embassies in Ankara [191905]. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s weapon is stored at the Palazzo Chigi government building with other state gifts [191905].
Erdogan’s gift highlights Turkey’s growing defense industry, a key export and foreign policy tool [191905]. Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan said ahead of the summit that the meeting should serve as a “turning point” that reinforces trust and promotes reconciliation [191844].