Turkey’s Erdogan gives NATO leaders handgun conundrum after summit

Belgium’s prime minister was a little surprised on landing back home from ​Wednesday’s NATO summit in Turkey to find that he had a handgun and ammunition in his luggage.

Belgium’s prime minister was a little surprised on landing back home from ​Wednesday’s NATO summit in Turkey to find that he had a handgun and ammunition in his luggage.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

After NATO leaders gathered for a series of fractious meetings in Ankara, their host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, handed each an unusual parting gift: a vintage ⁠revolver, along with live ammunition indicating it was not just for show.

Erdogan wanted to showcase Turkey’s defense industry, which has become a key export and foreign policy tool.