Ankara: The US, Japan, and South Korea have signed a significant agreement during the NATO Summit in Ankara, Trkiye, to establish a framework for trilateral cooperation aimed at accelerating the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in other countries. This agreement marks a pivotal step in enhancing energy security and advancing mutual security interests among the three nations.
According to Anadolu Agency, the initial focus of these deployments will be the Indo-Pacific region, as stated by the US State Department. The Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) is designed to encourage mutually beneficial cooperation among the nuclear industries of the US, Japan, and South Korea. The agreement aims to promote fleet deployment models that help de-risk project development, achieve economies of scale, catalyze private investment, streamline licensing processes, and optimize supply chains.
The coordinated trilateral approach seeks to position American, Japanese, and Korean firms as competitive alternatives for partners in the region, addressing growing energy demands while upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. The US has committed over $10 million to support the State Department's Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program, facilitating the safe deployment of SMRs in the Indo-Pacific.
In addition, companies such as GE Vernova, Hitachi, Samsung C and T, and SGE have agreed to advance the deployment of the BWRX-300 SMR across Europe. At the signing ceremony, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the critical role of energy security, referencing historical disruptions in global energy flows, such as those in the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Iran conflict.
The NATO Summit in Ankara, attended by leaders of the 32-member alliance and key partners, serves as a platform to discuss various defense and security issues. Although not NATO members, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan have been invited to the alliance's annual summits as guests since 2022. The summit also facilitates bilateral meetings between Trkiye and allied countries to enhance political, security, and economic cooperation.