Erdogan presented a silk carpet and books as gifts to European leaders
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan surprised leaders of the European Union and several European countries with unexpected gifts at the conclusion of the NATO summit held in Ankara, drawing attention from the international community, Zamin.uz reported.
According to reports, the Turkish host presented guests with a rifle set adorned with ornamental patterns and a set of arrows. This diplomatic move, on one hand, aimed to showcase Turkey’s high capabilities in the defense industry, while on the other, it created a series of legal and logistical complications for European officials.
Among the high-ranking recipients of the gift were reportedly influential figures such as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council. It is noted that António Costa’s security personnel immediately confiscated the weapons for inspection.
European specialists emphasized that Belgium enforces extremely strict regulations regarding weapons handling, making it practically impossible for individuals to personally retain or bring such gifts into the country. Due to the specificity of the situation, some state leaders decided to leave the gift in Turkey.
In particular, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof did not take the weapons with them. A representative of the Dutch government officially confirmed that the rifle gifted to Schoof was left for storage at the embassy in Ankara.
Such situations clearly highlighted the disparity between donor and recipient countries in terms of legal compliance when selecting diplomatic gifts. Observers suggest that this unusual gift was intended to reinforce Turkey’s standing as a major exporter of small arms.
However, in practice, this step turned into a headache for many participants. In European countries, the procedures for registering and storing weapons are highly complex, and even high-ranking officials are not exempt from these rules.
The next NATO summit was held at the Beştepe Presidential Complex in the Turkish capital, Ankara, with participation from the leaders of all thirty-two allied nations and representatives of international organizations.
Usually, after such events, the tradition of giving symbolic souvenir gifts has evolved, but Erdoğan’s choice of gift has become a subject of long-term debate due to its content and legal consequences. While Turkey succeeded in demonstrating its industrial capacity, the issue of where and how European leaders can store the gift remains a fundamental problem.
