Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan surprised NATO leaders with an unusual parting gift at Wednesday's summit in Ankara: a vintage revolver with live ammunition, intended to showcase Turkey's defense industry. The gift, a Gumusay .357 Magnum six-shooter produced by Turkish arms maker MKE in the 1990s, came in a wooden display box with Turkey's flag, the NATO logo, and a placard reading “Gumusay, the first revolver-type handgun produced in our country” in Turkish and English.
Leaders' Reactions to the Gift
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever was startled to find the handgun and ammunition in his luggage upon landing home. He handed it to Brussels' airport police for safekeeping. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's spokesperson confirmed all leaders received the same model, engraved with their names. Polish President Karol Nawrocki's revolver awaited customs clearance at Warsaw Airport, with an aide stating it would be kept safe and respected, adding, “Certainly no one will be shooting it.”
Varied Disposal Plans
The Dutch and Swedish prime ministers had their revolvers taken to their embassies in Ankara; the Dutch one was to be disabled, while the Swedish one awaited import paperwork. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer received a cleaning kit and 500 bullets with his revolver, according to a Downing Street source. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's revolver was stored at Palazzo Chigi with other state gifts. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen planned to donate hers to a military museum, and the Greek leader intended to give his to the War Museum in Athens.
Turkey's Defense Industry Showcase
Erdogan aimed to highlight Turkey's defense industry, a key export and foreign policy tool. Turkey's modern handgun industry focuses on semi-automatics, making the Gumusay a collector's item. Turkish gunmakers have entered Europe's civilian firearms market with inexpensive pistols and shotguns, challenging established Italian and Belgian brands. According to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, Turkey was the world's third-largest exporter of small arms between 2019 and 2024, with exports totaling about $3 billion, behind the United States and Italy.
