News of Bahrain
World9 July 20261 min read

Erdogan Gifts Starmer Personalised Pistol at NATO Summit

Ankara : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer with a personalised pistol engraved with his name during the NATO summit in Ankara, but the firearm has remained in Turkey because it cannot legally be imported

Editorial Team Legacy

Published 9 July 2026, 8:00 · Updated 18:12

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Erdogan Gifts Starmer Personalised Pistol at NATO Summit

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Ankara : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer with a personalised pistol engraved with his name during the NATO summit in Ankara, but the firearm has remained in Turkey because it cannot legally be imported into the UK.

The gift, which also included live ammunition, is being held by British officials in Turkey. It will be decommissioned before being returned to the UK, making it incapable of firing.

Although Erdogan waived Turkish export controls to allow the pistol to leave the country, UK law prohibits the import of a functioning firearm.

The gift was one of several personalised revolvers reportedly presented to leaders attending the summit.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said no date has yet been set for the alliance's next summit in Albania, despite leaders confirming it will be the next host nation.

Pic Credit: AFP

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