Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadian PoliticsCarney says engraved gun from Turkey's Erdogan 'not what I expected'The prime minister said his gift of maple syrup to the Turkish president at NATO 'kind of undermatched' the engraved revolver You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Presidential Complex in Ankara ahead of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit on July 7, 2026. Photo by HANDOUT /TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICEJEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says he was surprised to learn that Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had given an engraved gun to him and his fellow world leaders who attended this week’s NATO Summit in Ankara.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorAsked during a press conference on Thursday what went through his mind when he opened the unusual gift, Carney candidly admitted he never laid eyes on it.“I would like to reassure Canadians they keep guns away from me,” he quipped, referring to his staff.Carney said he learned the contents of the present — pistols individually inscribed with the name of each leader and accompanied by a box of six bullets — during a discussion with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer. Other leaders also confirmed they received the same gift.Starmer revealed the gift to the British press on the flight back to the United Kingdom Wednesday. He said he had to leave the gun in Turkey because importing it into Britain would be illegal.Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who only learned of the contents of the gift after landing in Belgium, immediately handed it over to airport police.De Wever’s security team also handled the revolvers given to European Union chiefs based in Brussels, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the AFP reported.Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on X the gun was a Magnum revolver.Global Affairs Canada said in an unattributed statement on Wednesday evening that Carney’s pistol was being transferred to the RCMP to be decommissioned. The ammunition was left in Turkey, the statement said.“It’s not a legal firearm in Canada, and I certainly don’t have a licence for it,” Carney said.“We’re going to find the best home for it” in a military museum or with the Canadian Armed Forces, given that it relates to NATO, the prime minister said.“But yes, it was not what I expected,” he added.Carney said his gift of maple syrup to Erdoğan “kind of undermatched” the engraved revolver.National Post calevesque@postmedia.comOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.