Ongoing bilateral talks between the United States and Turkey center on delivering six F-35 aircraft Turkey purchased before its 2019 removal from the program over the S-400 acquisition. Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu and the Defense Ministry described contacts as intensive in mid-October 2026 and expressed optimism for a positive outcome, including potential lifting of CAATSA sanctions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed President Trump’s interest in proceeding but reiterated that statutory conditions tied to the Russian system must first be satisfied. The jets remain in US storage pending resolution of certification requirements for Congress. These negotiations, alongside possible third-country relocation discussions for the S-400, represent the main near-term catalysts shaping trader assessments of re-entry timelines.