Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with a pistol and a box of live ammunition as a gift during the NATO summit in Ankara. The revolver, engraved with Starmer's name, cannot be brought into the United Kingdom due to strict import laws, despite a waiver note from Erdogan that exempts export controls.
Gift Given to All NATO Leaders
Starmer informed reporters that Erdogan gave similar engraved firearms to all leaders attending the summit. However, the Prime Minister must leave the weapon in Turkey to be decommissioned, as importing it into the UK is illegal.
Erdogan Praises Trump's F-35 Stance
During his closing press conference at the two-day summit, Erdogan commended US President Donald Trump's “positive approach” toward the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. He expressed hope that when the F-35s are delivered, “the whole world will say America kept its promise.” Erdogan also dismissed objections from Israel and Greece regarding the sale, stating that concerns raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis “have no place in my world.”
US Sanctions and F-35 Program
Trump announced on Tuesday that the US would lift sanctions imposed on Turkey after Ankara purchased Russian missile defense systems in 2019. That purchase led to Turkey's removal from the F-35 program. However, by Wednesday, Trump suggested he had not yet made a final decision on the F-35 issue.
Erdogan Renews Mediation Offer
Erdogan also reiterated Turkey's longstanding offer to mediate between Ukraine and Russia to end the ongoing war.
