In brief
During the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with a custom engraved revolver loaded with live ammunition. The firearm, earmarked for each country’s leader, remains in Turkey because bringing it to the UK would violate export laws. The gift was waived for export controls but will likely be decommissioned before any return. Starmer signed a defence agreement with Erdogan, signaling tighter intelligence sharing amid ongoing conflicts. He marked the summit as a milestone for UK‑Turkey cooperation even as he plans his resignation.
During the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with a custom engraved revolver loaded with live ammunition – a gesture that remains in Turkey due to UK import restrictions.
The revolver – engraved with Starmer’s name – was part of a series of similar gifts presented to each country’s leader attending the event.
Starmer’s revolver has not made its way to the UK and remains with British officials in Turkey. It is expected to be decommissioned before return, rendering it incapable of firing live ammunition.
Erdogan waived export controls on the gift but the firearm cannot be imported into the UK because of legal restrictions on live weapons.
Downing Street has not released a photo of the revolver.
At the summit, Starmer signed a defence agreement with Erdogan, paving the way for closer intelligence sharing between the countries.
Speaking after the summit, Starmer said the alliance was “stronger and more united” following the gathering, citing the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.
This will be Starmer's last major international event before he announces his resignation later this year.
