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

by Reuters Jul 28, 2025

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.

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

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,

A digital visualization shows the small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) planned by Rolls-Royce in this handout image obtained by Reuters on June 10, 2025. Rolls-Royce/Handout via REUTERS

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)