Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has gifted NATO leaders old-style Turkish-made revolvers along with live ammunition during the alliance’s summit in Ankara. Reuters reported that the unusual gifts were intended to highlight Turkey’s defence industry, which has become an important part of the country’s exports and foreign policy. Several leaders reportedly handed the weapons over to authorities for safe storage after returning home. Some governments said the revolvers would be disabled or kept in secure locations after completing legal procedures. The gifted revolver is believed to be a Gumusay 357 Magnum, a rare model produced by Turkey’s state defence company in the 1990s. Turkey’s arms industry has expanded in recent years, increasing exports of small arms and challenging traditional European manufacturers in the civilian weapons market.
