U.S., Japan, South Korea Partner on Small Modular Reactor Exports to Counter China's Influence
The United States, Japan, and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to jointly export small modular reactors (SMRs) across the Indo-Pacific region. This agreement, while ostensibly focused on energy, is a strategic response to China's expanding influence through civil nuclear exports. China is actively extending its reach by building nuclear reactors in various countries, creating long-term relationships through fuel supplies, financing, maintenance, technical standards, and political ties. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea recognize that exporting nuclear power plants is not merely about infrastructure development but about securing long-term geopolitical influence. This trilateral partnership aims to offer an alternative to Chinese and Russian nuclear energy projects, which are seen as tools for extending their strategic power. 
