U.S. USTDA Signals Support for Turkey's Small Modular Reactor Plans

Deputy Director Thomas Hardy of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) told a Washington press briefing that the agency plans to deepen cooperation with Turkey on nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs). He said USTDA could help prepare regulatory frameworks and facilitate both public‑ and private‑sector projects once SMR technology is ready for commercial deployment.

Hardy highlighted Turkey’s goal of adding at least 5 GW of SMR capacity over the next 20‑30 years, as part of a broader target of 30 GW of nuclear generation by 2053. He noted that Turkish firms such as Baykar, MİA Technology and Thor are already pursuing SMR development, and that Turkey is also engaging partners in South Korea, the UK, France and the United States (TerraPower). The USTDA has previously supported Turkish geothermal and digital infrastructure projects and sees opportunities to expand into nuclear collaborations.

The agency’s message indicates a willingness to back Turkey’s SMR ambitions with technical assistance, regulatory support and possible joint ventures, but no specific projects have been announced yet.