Finnish President Stubb wishes to museum-gifted NATO summit revolver

Finnish President Alexander Stubb received a ceremonial revolver as a gift from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the recent NATO summit. The firearm was presented alongside similar gifts to other heads of state attending the event.

According to the Office of the President, Stubb has accepted the gift. However, he expressed a desire for the weapon to be preserved in a museum. In line with protocol and safety regulations, the revolver has been handed over to the police for safekeeping. The presidential office has not specified which museum might be considered for displaying the firearm.

Reports indicate that the revolvers gifted by President Erdoğan are Gümüşay .357 Magnum models, manufactured by the Turkish company MKE. This gesture follows a precedent set in 2022 when a pen used by then-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto to sign Finland's NATO application was donated to the National Museum.

Other leaders also received similar gifts. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also received a revolver from Erdoğan and has reportedly expressed a wish for it to be museum-kept. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, upon realizing the gift was a firearm during his return journey, promptly surrendered it to the police at the airport.