Starmer and Støre don soccer jerseys at NATO summit before World Cup quarter-final

Soccer diplomacy at the NATO summit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met at the British embassy in Ankara on Tuesday (July 7) wearing their national soccer jerseys. The informal moment came ahead of the NATO summit and the World Cup quarter-final between England and Norway, scheduled for July 11 in Miami. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also joined the banter, joking with Støre about sharing Norwegian striker Erling Haaland at the next World Cup.

Starmer on Trump and leaving office

On Wednesday, Starmer said he would keep in touch with US President Donald Trump after his time as prime minister ends. Trump had previously mocked Starmer as "no Winston Churchill" over the UK's refusal to permit the use of its bases for US-Israel strikes on Iran. Trump repeated his criticism on Wednesday, but Starmer confirmed that Trump had wished him well as he prepares to leave Downing Street.

Yes he did, and we're going to stay in touch.

no Winston Churchill

Erdoğan's personalised gift

Starmer was handed a personalised revolver with live ammunition as a gift from NATO summit host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The gun bore Starmer's name, though the bullets did not. Similar gifts were given to each NATO leader in attendance. The firearm has been left with British officials in Turkey and is expected to be decommissioned.

UK-Turkey security pact

On the sidelines of the summit, the UK and Turkey are poised to sign a security and defense partnership pact. The signing is slated to take place when Starmer meets Erdoğan on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter.