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UK, US should work together on small modular reactors, Starmer says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 28, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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UK, US should work together on small modular reactors, Starmer says
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TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the country would benefit from working more closely with the United States on small modular reactors (SMRs) as he met U.S.

Starmer Advocates UK-US Collaboration on Small Modular Reactors

UK and US Collaboration on Nuclear Energy

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the country would benefit from working more closely with the United States on small modular reactors (SMRs) as he met U.S. President Donald Trump at his golf resort in Scotland on Monday.

Investment in Small Modular Reactors

"The more we can work together on this the better," Starmer said.

Potential Benefits of SMRs

Last month, Britain selected Rolls-Royce to build the country's first SMRs, pledging 2.5 billion pounds ($3.35 billion) to kickstart the industry,

Statements from Leaders

Trump said the United States would look into the opportunity for smaller nuclear plants.

"We're doing smaller and bigger, but the small is interesting," he told reporters in Turnberry.

"They (Rolls-Royce) do a small plant, very easy, very safe, and as they need more they hook up another plant, and they have a series of plants instead of doing the $20 billion plant."

Trump said SMRs could involve much lower investment, adding that they would study the option.

($1 = 0.7462 pounds)

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, William James, Andrew MacAskill and Andrea Shalal, writing by Sarah Young and Paul Sandle; Editing by Alistair Smout and Catarina Demony)

Key Takeaways

  • UK and US leaders discuss collaboration on small modular reactors.
  • Keir Starmer advocates for closer UK-US nuclear energy ties.
  • Britain selects Rolls-Royce for its first SMRs project.
  • Trump expresses interest in smaller, safer nuclear plants.
  • SMRs could offer lower investment and scalable solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a small modular reactor?
A small modular reactor (SMR) is a type of nuclear reactor that is smaller in size and power output than traditional reactors, designed for modular construction and scalability.
What is nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants.
What is investment?
Investment refers to the allocation of resources, usually money, in order to generate income or profit over time.
What is collaboration?
Collaboration is the act of working together with others to achieve a common goal or project, often involving sharing resources and expertise.
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is the practice of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often focusing on environmental, social, and economic factors.

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