During the NATO summit held in Ankara on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented each attending leader with a pistol engraved with their name, accompanied by a box of live ammunition. Among the recipients was Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour Party, whose pistol bore his name on the engraving.

The gifts, reportedly similar in design and personalization, were handed out as symbolic tokens during the high-level gathering of NATO members. The decision to include live ammunition with the firearms sparked discussion given security considerations.

Starmer, who had recently left behind a previous pistol engraved with his name in Ankara, accepted the new weapon during the summit. Photographs captured the moment of handshake between Erdogan and Starmer as the president delivered the personalised firearm.

The presentation of engraved guns as diplomatic gifts at the summit highlighted a unique custom among world leaders, underscoring the diverse nature of gifts exchanged during international meetings. While the gesture was meant to signify alliance and respect, the inclusion of live rounds prompted some observers to question the appropriateness of the gifts in a contemporary diplomatic context.

No official NATO statement was issued regarding the nature of the presents or their intended symbolism, and no further comment was made by Erdogan’s office at the time of the summit. The incident draws attention to the varied traditions maintained within alliances, where the exchange of tangible tokens continues to play a role alongside political discussions.