Turkish top diplomat says US must be impartial on F-35 issue

The political process regarding the F-16 has been completed, while the technical processes related to the production and delivery of the fighter jets to Türkiye have already begun, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

He stressed that the US authorities have shown their will in this matter, TRT Haber reports.

"Further technical procedures will be carried out in cooperation with the defence ministries and the companies concerned," the Turkish diplomatic chief said.

Referring to the issue of the fifth generation of the F-35 fighter jets, Fidan said: "As you know, we were part of the F-35 programme and then there was an unfair decision by the US using the issue of Russian S-400s as an excuse. We are maintaining our position again, there is a nationwide payment that we have made, and we have aircraft to buy. We believe that America should also be impartial on this issue. The exchange of views is underway."