Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave engraved revolvers and ammunition to leaders who attended this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday.
Speaking to British reporters on his flight home, Starmer said each leader received a revolver engraved with their name and a box of live rounds, according to the Press Association.
Starmer said he had to leave the gift in Turkey because bringing it into Britain would be illegal, despite a letter from Erdoğan lifting export controls on the weapon.
The unusual gifts drew attention after the summit, where NATO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense and pledged new defense spending and weapons production.
The German government also left its gift with the German Embassy in Ankara so it could be properly imported and inventoried, according to German media.
The Turkish Presidency has not publicly commented on the gifts.
The Ankara summit was Starmer’s last major international event after he announced his resignation on June 22.
He will remain in office until the ruling Labour Party chooses a new leader, with former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham seen as the likely successor.
© Agence France-Presse