What’s supposed to be a gesture of goodwill between allies turned into an accidental international incident when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan handed out custom revolvers as parting gifts at the NATO summit in Ankara.
The custom weapons—beautifully engraved with each recipient’s name—seemed like a thoughtful souvenir from the two-day gathering. But there was one critical detail that didn’t make it into the gift-giving memo: the revolvers came loaded with live ammunition. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever had no idea when he tossed his present into his luggage for the trip home.
De Wever didn’t open the gift before boarding his flight back to Brussels. It wasn’t until he landed Wednesday that the real surprise came. Airport authorities discovered a golden revolver and six rounds of live ammunition in his possession—not exactly the kind of souvenir that clears security without raising some serious eyebrows. He immediately handed everything over to airport police, who are now figuring out what to do with the vintage weapon.
Not everyone made the same misstep. Leaders from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Sweden took the smarter route: they left the guns behind in Turkey. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on the other hand, decided hers was worth keeping and has it on display in Rome.
It’s the kind of diplomatic moment that nobody plans for—a well-meaning gift that turned into a borderline security nightmare. At least no one got hurt, and the story serves as a pretty solid reminder that even world leaders occasionally need to double-check what’s in their carry-on.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.