British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer received a customised revolver engraved with his name from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the recent NATO summit.
The firearm, which was presented with live ammunition, was part of a series of commemorative gifts given to the leaders of countries attending the summit.
Due to UK laws prohibiting the importation of live firearms, the revolver was not transported back to Britain and remains in the custody of British officials in Turkey. It is expected to be decommissioned before being returned, ensuring it can no longer fire live ammunition.
Turkey also approved an exemption to allow the export of the gift once the necessary legal requirements are met. No official image of the revolver has been released by the British government.
During the summit, Sir Keir and President Erdogan also signed a new defence agreement aimed at strengthening intelligence cooperation and enhancing security collaboration between both countries.
Reflecting on the outcome of the meeting, Sir Keir described the summit as successful, saying it reinforced unity among NATO members at a time of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.
The NATO gathering is expected to be Sir Keir Starmer’s final major international engagement after announcing his decision to step down as prime minister last month.
