Russia's Vladimir Putin presented Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi with an authentic Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle while visiting the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Tuesday.
"President Putin presented President Sisi with a glorious gift — a Kalashnikov. Undoubtedly very symbolic," Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt wrote on his Twitter page, and included a photo of the exchange.
Putin arrived in Cairo on Monday to great fanfare, with one local newspaper running the headline "Putin is the hero of our times," according to Foreign Policy magazine's David Kenner.
Putin began cultivating ties with al-Sisi last year, when he endorsed the former military leader's candidacy for president following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
Russia has been negotiating to sell billions of dollars' worth of arms to Egypt.
President Putin presented President Sisi with a glorious gift - a Kalashnikov. Undoubtedly very symbolic. pic.twitter.com/vgNRSKrzZE
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 10, 2015
