At the conclusion of the recent NATO summit in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opted for a departure from the traditional diplomatic exchange of wool socks and artisanal chocolates. Instead, leaders of the Western alliance were presented with custom-engraved .357 Magnum revolvers, manufactured by the Turkish state-owned firm MKE. The gesture, while undoubtedly memorable, left several heads of state grappling with the legal and security implications of transporting high-caliber firearms across international borders.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first to reveal the nature of the gift, which arrived in a polished wooden box complete with six rounds of live ammunition and a set of export-control waivers. While Turkey intended the documents to facilitate a smooth passage through customs, the reality for many European delegations was far more complicated. The sudden appearance of a lethal weapon in a diplomatic luggage haul triggered immediate security protocols and a degree of confusion among returning entourages.
Belgium’s Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, reportedly experienced a moment of shock upon discovering the revolver in his luggage after returning to Brussels. His security detail immediately seized the weapon for processing, eventually handing it over to airport police for storage and eventual decommissioning. Other leaders took similar precautions; Canada’s Justin Trudeau noted that his gift had been sent for 'deactivation' before he even set eyes on it, dryly observing that his own gift of maple syrup seemed modest by comparison.
Beyond the awkward logistics, the choice of gift serves as a calculated advertisement for Turkey’s booming defense sector. Under Erdoğan, the Turkish defense industry has transformed from a domestic requirement into a potent tool of soft—and hard—power. Turkey has quietly ascended to become the world’s third-largest exporter of small arms, trailing only the United States and Italy, with exports totaling approximately $3 billion between 2019 and 2024.
This 'gun diplomacy' highlights an increasingly assertive Turkey that views itself as a primary arsenal for the alliance rather than a mere consumer of Western technology. By placing a Turkish-made firearm directly into the hands of his peers, Erdoğan is signaling that Ankara’s industrial capacity is now a force to be reckoned with. For traditional manufacturers in Italy and Belgium, the message is clear: Turkey is no longer just a NATO ally, but a fierce commercial competitor in the global arms market.