The United States, Japan, and South Korea have formalized a new framework to strengthen cooperation on SMR deployment, marking a significant step toward advancing small modular reactor projects in international markets. On the margins of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) designed to support trilateral collaboration on accelerating small modular reactor deployments in other countries, with an initial focus on the Indo-Pacific. The agreement is intended to reinforce shared security priorities while enabling partner nations to address their energy security requirements through expanded access to advanced nuclear technologies.
The SMR deployment agreement establishes a framework that leverages the complementary strengths of the three countries in the civil nuclear sector. Through this collaboration, the participating nations intend to encourage mutually beneficial engagement among their respective nuclear industries. The framework promotes fleet deployment models aimed at reducing project risks, delivering economies of scale, attracting private investment, simplifying licensing procedures, and strengthening supply chain efficiency.
By adopting a unified trilateral approach, American, Japanese, and Korean companies will be better positioned to offer competitive nuclear energy solutions to countries across the region as electricity demand continues to increase. The cooperation also reinforces a shared commitment to maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation as advanced reactor technologies become more widely available.
U.S. Announces New FIRST Program Funding to Support SMR deployment
As part of the broader initiative, the United States announced more than $10 million in new funding for the Department of State’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program. The investment will provide technical assistance to countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region seeking to develop safe, secure, and reliable nuclear energy projects. The funding is intended to support SMR deployment by advancing project development activities while also creating an SMR Regional Training Hub dedicated to workforce development.
Industry Collaboration Supports European BWRX-300 SMR Expansion
Alongside the government agreement, the United States also announced a separate industry initiative involving GE Vernova, Hitachi, Samsung C&T, and SGE. Under this collaboration, the companies will work together to advance deployment of the BWRX-300 SMR across Europe. The initiative is designed to complement the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Cooperation signed during the summit and further reinforce collaboration between governments and industry. Through this effort, the participating companies aim to contribute to stronger global energy security.
