08.07.2026 18:40
Hosted in Ankara, the historic 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government garnered great appreciation for Türkiye's hosting and organization. During the summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented leaders with a personal gift of a signed letter and a book, while personalized pen and notebook sets placed on the tables also drew attention.
At the major summit in Ankara, the heart of global diplomacy, critical defense and strategy decisions were made, alongside special gifts presented to leaders that left a mark on the summit. Türkiye prepared two unforgettable surprises for the heads of state and government of the 32 countries it hosted, both intellectually and aesthetically.
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN'S PERSONAL GIFT
One of the most striking diplomatic gestures of the summit came from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As his personal gift, Erdoğan presented all leaders attending the summit with the book "The Politics of Courage: Erdoğan and the Rise of Türkiye."
Prepared in English, the book covers Türkiye's recent history, political transformation, and critical decision moments, and includes a special letter bearing President Erdoğan's own signature. In his letter, Erdoğan addressed the leaders with the following words:
"History is not merely the sum of moments lived; it is the collective accumulation of decisions that shape those moments, intense efforts, and the vision built. This work is an expression of the dreams we have built together with our nation, the projects we have realized, and the legacy we leave for tomorrow, beyond a personal journey."
PERSONALIZED PEN AND NOTEBOOK SETS ON TABLES
Diplomatic gift exchanges did not stop there. Before the North Atlantic Council meeting, prestigious pens and notebooks, each designed with the leader's name and title, were placed on the tables.
According to details reflected on cameras before the summit meeting, the distribution of personalized prestigious gifts left on leaders' tables was as follows:
US President Donald Trump: An elegant red pen with his name on it and a thick black pen bearing the inscription "White House."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: A refined green pen with his name and a notebook with a brown cover.
French President Emmanuel Macron: A red pen engraved with his name and a gray-designed notebook.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez: A red pen bearing his name and a special black notebook.