UK / US SMR & Military

Andy Stirling and Phil Johnstone: Donald Trump’s recent visit to the UK saw

a so-called “landmark partnership” on nuclear energy. London and
Washington announced plans to build 20 small modular reactors and also
develop microreactor technology – despite the fact no such plants have yet
been built commercially anywhere in the world. The UK prime minister, Keir
Starmer, promised these plans will deliver a “golden age” of nuclear
energy that will also “drive down bills”. Yet the history of nuclear
power has been decades of overhype, soaring costs and constant delays.
Around the world, the trends point the wrong way. So why the renewed
excitement about going nuclear? The real reasons have less to do with
energy security, or climate change – and far more to  with UK military
needs”. It is this dependency that allows military costs (in the words of
a former executive with submarine builders BAE Systems), to be “masked”
behind civilian programmes.

The Conversation 27th Oct 2025

https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-military-pressures-behind-the-new-push-for-small-nuclear-reactors-266301