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Türkiye is calling on the United States to take concrete steps toward delivering F-16 fighter jets, a source in the Turkish Cabinet told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti on Sunday, as talks between the two NATO allies over the long-stalled purchase resume.
"We expect concrete action from the American side on this issue. The sum has already been paid, however deliveries have not yet been fulfilled. Negotiations are continuing now, and we expect a positive result," the source said.
The comments follow a report published September 21 by the outlet Al-Monitor, which cited a source familiar with the discussions as saying that Türkiye and the United States had resumed talks on the supply and modernization of F-16 jets.
According to that report, the two sides are discussing a possible Turkish purchase of 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft, along with the modernization of Türkiye's existing F-16 fleet.
The Turkish Cabinet source's account indicates that Ankara has already paid for the jets but has yet to receive them, and that talks are ongoing in hopes of reaching a resolution. The source did not provide further detail on the amount paid or a timeline for when a deal might be finalized.
The dispute over F-16 deliveries traces back to Türkiye's 2017 contract with Russia for a regimental set of S-400 air defense systems, which Ankara received in the summer and autumn of 2019. Washington had pressed Türkiye to forgo the Russian systems in favor of the U.S.-made Patriot system, but Ankara declined.
In response, the United States removed Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program and imposed sanctions on Turkish defense-industry officials under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, known as CAATSA.
Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on September 26 that Türkiye is aware the S-400 systems cannot be transferred to a third party without Russia's consent. No further details of his remarks were included in the available reporting.
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