Turkey's Erdogan gives NATO leaders revolver conundrum after summit

🇹🇷 Al-Monitor Middle East (TR) —
Turkey's Erdogan gives NATO leaders revolver conundrum after summit

AI Summary

At the NATO summit in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gifted NATO leaders vintage revolvers with live ammunition, demonstrating Turkey's growing defense industry. The unusual gesture garnered surprise and highlighted Turkey’s role in defense exports and foreign policy.

MADRID, July 9 (Reuters) - Belgium's prime minister was a little surprised on landing back home from Wednesday's NATO summit in Turkey to find that he had a handgun and ammunition in his luggage. After NATO leaders gathered for Wednesday's fractious summit in Ankara, their host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, handed each an unusual parting gift: a vintage revolver, along with live ammunition indicating it was not just for show. Erdogan wanted to showcase Turkey's defence industry, which has become a key export and foreign policy tool.

Security Conflict Politics NATO Turkey Erdogan defense industry revolvers military exports foreign policy

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