Turkish President Recep Erdogan presented NATO summit participants with a unique gift — a revolver featuring the recipient’s first and last name engraved on the barrel, along with six live rounds. This occurred after the summit concluded in Ankara. The gift came in a luxurious box accompanied by a note for Turkish customs.
This unusual gift created significant challenges for embassies and security services. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer left the weapon at the British Embassy in Ankara, as bringing it into the UK could have violated British weapons laws.
Reaction of European Leaders
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever learned the contents of the box only after his plane landed at the Belgian military airfield in Melsbroek, according to the daily newspaper De Morgen. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and General Affairs were unable to immediately address inquiries regarding the revolver.
On Thursday, the Belgian Prime Minister shared a photo of the weapon online. The inscription BART DE WEVER in capital letters is visible on the left side of the shiny barrel. Jetten also left the weapon in Turkey.
Update at 12:25: Director of the Government Information Service Anna Sophia Posthumus stated that the service does not respond to questions about the revolver. “We do not do this for other gifts either,” noted Posthumus.
Source: de Volkskrant
