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Exchanging diplomatic gifts between nations can carry various meanings: they may symbolize peace and solidarity, express gratitude for assistance rendered, or even serve as a display of dominance. However, some gifts can be ill-conceived, leading to awkward situations for the involved parties. Here, we explore ten peculiar gifts exchanged between countries.
10. A Phallic Sheath
In the Republic of Vanuatu’s Tanna Island, located in the South Pacific, there exists an unusual religious sect that venerates Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, as a divine figure. This belief originated in the mid-20th century, with the islanders considering Philip a descendant of their spiritual forebears. The island is adorned with framed photos, British flags, and newspaper articles honoring him. They also pray to Philip for agricultural success and favorable weather, believing his presence would bring prosperity and well-being—a hope now dimmed since his retirement from public life in 2017.
Exchanges of gifts have occurred between Prince Philip and the islanders. For instance, the Prince received a ceremonial pig-killing club, to which he responded with an autographed photo. Additionally, he sent a condolence letter following the death of their chief, Jack Naiva, in 2009. In 2010, they gifted Philip a straw penis sheath, though it remains unclear if he ever wore it.
9. A Dragon
Technically, it was a Komodo dragon from Indonesia. As Indonesia’s national animal, receiving one as a gift is a significant honor. During Ronald Reagan’s 1986 visit to Bali, President Soeharto presented him with a pair of Komodo dragons, which were later donated to the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
In 1990, Soeharto gifted President George H.W. Bush the same creature. Initial breeding plans were delayed when it was discovered both dragons were male, prompting the loan of one of Reagan’s dragons to the Cincinnati Zoo. The breeding succeeded, and by the time one of Bush’s dragons, Naga, passed away at 24, he had fathered 32 offspring. Naga attracted over a million visitors annually and even toured ten other zoos.
8. A Video Depicting Animal Cruelty
From 1983 to 1984, Donald Rumsfeld, the US envoy to the Middle East, held multiple meetings with Saddam Hussein to strengthen diplomatic ties. This occurred during the Iran-Iraq War, a period when fostering positive relationships with regional powers was crucial for the US. During these encounters, Rumsfeld addressed Hussein as “Mr. President” and engaged in formal handshakes.
While Rumsfeld presented Hussein with unusual gifts, such as a medieval spiked hammer and golden cowboy boots, Hussein’s reciprocation was even more peculiar. Aiming to strain US-Syria relations and potentially secure US backing for an Iraqi invasion of Syria, Hussein gifted Rumsfeld a video.
The video, accessible on Rumsfeld’s website, is deeply disturbing. The grainy, monochrome footage depicts female soldiers decapitating live snakes and young male soldiers fatally stabbing a dog, all seemingly endorsed by then-Syrian dictator Hafez al-Assad. The video aimed to highlight the savagery of the Syrian regime.
7. A Collection of Royal Exotic Animals
After securing the English throne following the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror initiated the construction of Norman castles to fortify his defenses. Among these was the Tower of London, completed in 1078, which boasts a rich and storied past, including the executions of notable figures like Guy Fawkes and Anne Boleyn.
The Tower of London also housed a collection of exotic animals. While most might appreciate a puppy as a gift, Henry III received three leopards (or lions, depending on accounts) from Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, symbolizing diplomatic unity. Frederick had recently married Henry’s sister. These wild cats were later featured on Henry’s coat of arms and remain iconic symbols on English sports team jerseys today.
Henry’s royal zoo expanded with gifts like an African elephant from France’s King Louis IX and a polar bear from Norway’s King Haakon IV. The polar bear, though chained, was permitted to swim in the River Thames and catch fish, creating a remarkable spectacle for passing fishermen.
6. A Human Slave
In 1848, King Ghezo of Dahomey (modern-day Benin in West Africa) launched a slave raid against neighboring tribes. During this raid, a five-year-old girl was captured, and her parents were killed. The girl was initially destined to be a human sacrifice.
A few years later, British naval officer Frederick Forbes convinced King Ghezo to gift the child to Queen Victoria, describing her as “a present from the King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites.” Forbes later successfully advocated for the abolition of slavery in Dahomey.
The child, named Sarah Forbes Bonetta after the HMS Bonetta that carried her to England, met Queen Victoria, who was deeply impressed by her intellect and demeanor. The queen became her godmother, funding her education and housing. Bonetta even attended the wedding of the queen’s daughter.
Sarah eventually returned to Africa, settling in Nigeria with her husband, Captain James Davies, and raising three children. Tragically, she succumbed to tuberculosis at 37. Queen Victoria continued to support her children’s education and well-being.
5. An Ancient Egyptian Obelisk
Two obelisks, depicting the reigns of Ramses II and Ramses III, stood in Luxor, Egypt, for more than three millennia. However, Egyptian governor Muhammad Ali prioritized modernization over preserving the past. He revolutionized Egypt’s military, education, and agricultural systems to propel the nation into the future.
To strengthen ties with France, which had previously occupied Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte, Ali gifted one of the obelisks to King Louis Philippe I in 1833. Initially, both obelisks were to be sent, but the exorbitant transportation cost of 2.5 million francs made it impractical. The second obelisk remained in Luxor as a symbol of unity, akin to two halves of a shared token. In exchange, France gifted Egypt a clock, which still adorns the mosque in Cairo’s Citadel.
Crafted from red granite, the obelisk stands over 22 meters (72 feet) tall and weighs more than 250 tons. Today, it is prominently displayed in the heart of Paris.
4. Pandas, Pandas, and More Pandas
To foster goodwill and generate positive publicity, nations often exchange animals that hold symbolic significance. China’s panda diplomacy stands as a prime example of this practice.
While this tradition gained momentum in the 20th century, its origins trace back to the seventh century when Empress Wu Zetian gifted pandas to Japan. In gratitude for the US joining World War II, China sent pandas to the Bronx Zoo. Later, in 1972, President Nixon received a pair of pandas, which were subsequently donated to the National Zoo.
Since 1984, panda exchanges have shifted to ten-year loans, costing $1 million annually. This strategy has proven effective. For instance, when Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland received two pandas on loan, Scotland’s exports to China surged to £500 million over five years.
3. The Remains of Napoleon II
The son of Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon II had a relatively uneventful life before succumbing to tuberculosis at 21 in 1832. He was buried in Austria, where he had commanded a military battalion during his final years.
More than a century later, in 1940, Adolf Hitler shocked Western Europe by swiftly conquering Holland, Belgium, and France. France was split into two regions: the German-occupied North and the Vichy regime in the South, led by Philippe Petain.
To solidify his control, Hitler sought to win French support through Petain. A plan was devised to return Napoleon II’s ashes from Vienna to Paris as a diplomatic gesture. However, the event fell flat. The ashes arrived in Paris at midnight under German guard, with neither Hitler nor Petain present at the somber ceremony.
Today, Napoleon II’s remains lie in the Hotel des Invalides, sharing the same resting place as his father.
2. Fish Bait
Perhaps the most modest gift in recent memory, Morocco’s king sent George W. Bush a $3 jar of fish bait. Fortunately, this wasn’t the only offering; Bush also received a dagger adorned with precious jewels.
This wasn’t the only unusual gift Bush received during his presidency. The Polish president presented him with a book on counterterrorism, while Argentina gifted him 136 kilograms (300 pounds) of lamb meat.
While the president can technically retain unsolicited gifts from the public, it’s uncommon. Gifts from foreign nations must be disclosed, especially if they exceed a certain value. Federal employees cannot accept gifts worth more than $390, meaning Bush might have kept the fish bait. (Unclaimed gifts are sent to the National Archives.) If the president or first lady chooses to keep a gift exceeding $390, they must pay for it personally, as Hillary Clinton did when she purchased a $970 necklace from Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi.
1. Non-Functional DVDs
It’s no secret that Barack Obama’s relationship with the United Kingdom was lukewarm at best, and his 2009 diplomatic gift exchange with Prime Minister Gordon Brown did little to strengthen American-British ties.
During the exchange, Obama presented Brown with 25 DVDs featuring classic American films like Citizen Kane and The Godfather. While thoughtful, the gift had two major flaws: First, the DVDs were region-locked for the US, rendering them unusable in the UK. Second, Brown had spent over $16,000 on his gifts to Obama, which included a collection of biographies on Winston Churchill and a penholder made from the wood of an anti-slavery ship. The penholder held additional significance, as it was crafted from the HMS Gannet, whose sister ship, the HMS Resolute, provided the oak for the Oval Office desk used since 1880.
