British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented pistols to NATO leaders as gifts during a summit. The revelation emerged on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Ankara, where Starmer and Erdogan signed a defense partnership agreement on July 8, 2026.
Gift-Giving at NATO Summit
According to Starmer, Erdogan distributed pistols to several NATO leaders, including himself. The British leader made the comment while discussing the summit's informal exchanges. No further details were provided about the specific recipients or the type of pistols involved.
Defense Agreement Signed
The gift disclosure coincided with the signing of a bilateral defense cooperation deal between the UK and Turkey. The agreement aims to strengthen military ties and joint operations, though specific terms were not immediately released. Starmer described the pact as a step toward enhanced security collaboration.
An AP photograph captured the handshake between Starmer and Erdogan after the signing. The summit also addressed broader NATO issues, including regional security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
