British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was gifted a pistol and live ammunition by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the recent NATO summit in Ankara, but was unable to bring the firearm back to the United Kingdom due to import regulations.
Starmer stated on Wednesday that the weapon, inscribed with his name, had to be left in Turkey because importing it would be illegal. Erdogan reportedly offered a pistol and a box of ammunition to each of the leaders attending the summit.
The NATO summit, which concluded recently, was marked by discussions on the alliance's unity amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Starmer described the summit as successful, noting that US President Donald Trump praised the spirit and unity of the meeting. "Nato has emerged from its annual summit 'stronger and more united'," Starmer told reporters.
The summit, however, was not without its tensions. President Trump reportedly criticized some nations for their lack of involvement in the Iran conflict and reiterated his controversial stance on Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark. Trump also made remarks suggesting a potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe and questioned the commitment to defending Spain. During discussions, Trump appeared to be unaware that Starmer had announced his resignation on June 22.
Starmer described the preceding days, which saw a renewed conflict between the US and Iran, as "challenging." The announcement of the US ceasefire with Iran ending by President Trump led to a more than 6 percent jump in oil prices, with Brent crude rising to $78.70.
At a press conference, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attempted to reassure allies of the U.S. commitment to the alliance, while also emphasizing an expectation for allies to increase their defense spending to match that of the United States.