Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave engraved revolvers and pistols loaded with live ammunition to NATO leaders as parting gifts this week [1], [2].
The incident has created a diplomatic and security stir after several leaders discovered the loaded weapons inside their luggage while returning to their home countries [3], [4].
The gifts were distributed immediately after the NATO summit in Ankara on July 9, 2026 [1], [2]. While some reports indicate every NATO leader received a firearm [5], others suggest only a portion of the attendees discovered the gifts after the event concluded [6].
Among those affected was Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who found a pistol in his luggage [2], [3]. The firearms were described as engraved, though reports differ on whether they were revolvers or pistols [1], [3].
Security protocols for heads of state typically involve rigorous screening of all luggage and belongings. The presence of live ammunition [3] in the baggage of world leaders introduces significant risks and complicates the transport of these items across international borders.
Turkish officials said the weapons were symbolic gestures of friendship and parting gifts [4], [6]. However, the lack of prior notification regarding the contents of the luggage led to the current security snafu [4].
NATO officials have not yet issued a formal collective response to the gifting of live weaponry. The event occurs against a backdrop of complex diplomatic relations between Turkey and its alliance partners.
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave engraved revolvers and pistols loaded with live ammunition to NATO leaders.”
The gifting of loaded firearms to foreign heads of state violates standard diplomatic protocol and security norms. By placing weapons in luggage without prior disclosure, the Turkish presidency bypassed the security details of multiple sovereign leaders, potentially triggering airport security alerts and creating a liability for the recipients who must now navigate the legalities of importing live ammunition into their own countries.
