Erdogan gifts pistols to 32 NATO leaders

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented engraved pistols, each accompanied by a box of ammunition, to all 32 leaders attending a NATO summit in Ankara. The gifts, however, presented logistical challenges for some recipients due to strict import regulations in their home countries.

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every pistol was engraved with the name of the leader who received it and also came with a box of ammunition.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that he was compelled to leave his pistol in Turkey. Despite Erdogan issuing a letter to exempt the weapon from export controls, Starmer explained that bringing it into Britain would be illegal. This summit was the final major international event for Starmer before his resignation as Labour party leader.

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I had to leave the gift in Turkey because bringing it into Britain is against the law, even though Erdogan issued a letter exempting the weapon from export controls.

Similarly, the Canadian government announced that Prime Minister Mark Carney would not keep the pistol gifted by Erdogan. The engraved firearm is being transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for decommissioning and deactivation. The ammunition accompanying the gift will remain in Turkey, as Canada also enforces stringent firearm import laws with limited exceptions.

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The pistol is being transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for decommissioning and deactivation, while the ammunition that came with the gift remains in Turkey.