NATO leaders unwrap controversial revolver gifts from Turkish President Erdogan

World leaders attending this week's NATO summit in Ankara have received an unusual parting gift from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: vintage revolvers complete with live ammunition. The gesture has caught several delegations off guard, particularly Belgium's prime minister, who discovered the firearm in his hand luggage upon returning home.

The handguns were presented as a showcase of Turkey's burgeoning defence industry, which has become increasingly central to Ankara's foreign policy and economic strategy. However, the practical implications of international leaders transporting firearms across borders has prompted questions about diplomatic protocol and customs procedures.

Turkey's defence exports on the rise

According to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, Turkey ranked as the world's third-largest exporter of small arms between 2019 and 2024, trailing only the United States and Italy. The nation exported approximately $3 billion worth of weaponry during this five-year period, underscoring the sector's significance to the Turkish economy.

By gifting the revolvers to NATO colleagues, Erdogan sought to underscore Turkey's capabilities in military manufacturing—a sector that has increasingly become a tool for diplomatic influence and economic leverage within international relations.

Diplomatic headaches for recipients

Several NATO leaders now face the practical challenge of navigating import regulations and customs procedures for their unexpected gifts. Belgium's delegation has indicated they are awaiting the appropriate import documentation for the firearm, whilst at least one leader has pledged to donate their revolver to a military museum rather than retain it personally.

The incident highlights the occasional friction between diplomatic courtesy and legal compliance, with leaders forced to manage the delicate balance between accepting gifts from allied nations and adhering to their own countries' firearms import laws.

Context within NATO tensions

The gift exchange occurred following what reports describe as a "fractious" NATO summit, suggesting underlying tensions among the alliance members. Erdogan's gesture, while ostensibly celebratory, occurred amid broader discussions about NATO strategy, defence spending, and Turkey's regional role within the alliance.

"The gift was supposedly a showcase of Turkey's defence industry, which has become a key export and foreign policy tool."

For Australian observers, the incident underscores Turkey's strategic positioning within NATO and its efforts to leverage defence manufacturing as a source of international influence—a dynamic increasingly relevant as the alliance addresses evolving security challenges in Europe and beyond.

This article was adapted from reporting by ABC News.