U.S. Steps Up Drive To Sell Small Nuclear Reactors In Caucasus And Central Asia

The State Department has stepped up efforts to promote American small modular nuclear reactors to Armenia and Kazakhstan as Washington competes with Moscow and Beijing for future energy projects.

Senior U.S. diplomat Shawna J. Wilson visited both regions in late October to press for deeper nuclear cooperation, meeting with officials in Yerevan and Nur-Sultan to lay out technical assistance and training offers. The outreach follows a bilateral framework agreed with Armenia during Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit earlier this year and a separate U.S.-Kazakh pact signed in late 2025 that included plans for American-led training for Kazakh technicians.

A central plank of Washington’s pitch is participation in a U.S.-led capacity-building initiative that helps partners establish nuclear programs with attention to safety and security. Kazakh state media reported that during talks on Oct. 27 the two sides signaled a willingness to continue talks on peaceful nuclear projects even as Kazakhstan outlines plans for three large-scale plants slated for construction by Russian and Chinese contractors.

Armenia’s calculus is more fluid. Yerevan is weighing replacements for the aging Metsamor plant, a decision that has attracted intense interest from both Russia and the United States. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed reservations recently about whether small modular units fit Armenia’s needs, but the country’s nuclear-development lead, Narek Apitonyan, indicated Washington could still play a part in future plans.

Independent analysts say the push is as much geopolitical as it is technological. “Countries in this region are weighing cost, control and long-term ties,” said a nuclear policy analyst who reviewed the outreach. He added that modular reactors can lower initial capital barriers and speed deployment, but they still require robust regulation, financing and skilled personnel — hurdles that many post-Soviet states must overcome.

Expect more technical talks and training offers in the months ahead. For now, American representatives are making their case while state-backed builders from Russia and China maintain momentum on larger conventional plants. Ultimately, decisions in Yerevan and Nur-Sultan are likely to hinge on financing packages, safety assurances and which partner promises the deepest long-term partnership.