Erdogan's Gift

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A photo of an opened black gun case with a revolver inside. The top is open and held vertically, so we see a Turkish a flag and a NATO flag inside of two circles, stuck on the inside of the top.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan handed each NATO leader an engraved revolver with live ammunition at the alliance's summit in Ankara. The personalized weapons came with letters waiving Turkey's export controls, but several leaders chose not to take them home due to strict gun laws.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer disclosed the unusual gifts to journalists on his flight home from the Turkish capital. Each revolver bore the recipient's name and included a box of ammunition. Starmer left his weapon with British officials in Turkey to be deactivated, as importing it to the UK would violate the country's strict firearms legislation.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also received a revolver. A government spokesperson told the German Press Agency: "The revolver was handed over to the embassy so that it can be properly imported and then inventoried in the collection of official gifts."

https://www.upday.com/uk...

8 hours ago

joost 8 hours ago

Presenting pistols. Very old school.
Although they should be ivory handled dueling pistols to do it properly. In a ray skin case.

Given that NATO is a military alliance maybe a weapon is an apt gift in some way.

But here in NL, DE, B, ... only police and military (and criminals) carry pistols.
And we're probably better for it.

(apparently Belgium only opened the bag when they were home. Or so they say)