Danish prime minister receives engraved revolver from Erdogan

The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, received a handgun as a gift from Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the NATO summit in Ankara, the prime minister’s office confirmed to DR.

In a brief written response, the office stated the gift was accepted “in accordance with standard international practice.” The weapon, engraved with the recipient’s name and accompanied by a cleaning kit and ammunition, remains in police custody, as Frederiksen has not taken personal possession of it.

Several other leaders also received revolvers. Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, left his at the Swedish embassy in Turkey pending compliance with Swedish law, according to his press secretary. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Antonio Costa, UK prime minister Keir Starmer, Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and German chancellor Friedrich Merz likewise left their gifts in Turkey.