LONDON — The United States will finalize a new nuclear energy agreement with British leaders during President Donald Trump‘s state visit to the United Kingdom this week.
Trump will touch down in London on Tuesday before spending Wednesday at Windsor Castle with King Charles III, capped by a lavish state banquet in the evening.
The nuclear agreement itself, which British government officials said “will turbocharge the build-out of new nuclear power stations in both countries and clear the way for a major expansion of new nuclear projects in the U.K.,” will be signed on Thursday during a slate of bilateral meetings between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“This landmark UK-US nuclear partnership is not just about powering our homes, it’s about powering our economy, our communities, and our ambition. These major commitments set us well on course to a golden age of nuclear that will drive down household bills in the long run, while delivering thousands of good jobs in the short term,” Starmer said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Together with the US, we’re building a golden age of nuclear that puts both countries at the forefront of global innovation and investment.”
Trump’s Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, said the administration is “ushering in a true nuclear renaissance — harnessing the power of commercial nuclear to meet rising energy demand and fuel the AI revolution.”
“Strengthened nuclear cooperation with the UK reinforces our unshakable commitment to technological leadership, global security and the responsible stewardship of nuclear power,” added Interior Secretary Doug Bergum. “This is how we unleash the full power of American Energy Dominance – with innovation, strength, and key geopolitical collaboration.”
The new framework outlines plans to build 12 modular nuclear reactors in northern England, which British government officials predict could power some 1.5 million homes and add 2,500 jobs to the economy.
White House officials told the Washington Examiner that the initiative will greatly reduce British dependence on Russian oil, a major roadblock toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Over the weekend, Trump said he was “ready to do major sanctions on Russia” in coordination with the other NATO member countries.
The president has ramped up pressure on America’s NATO partners to stop importing Russian oil from China and India and suggested that the U.S. and its allies add new tariffs, ranging from 50 to 100%, to prevent Russia from transhipping its energy products to Europe.
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“The purchase of Russian oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the new tariffs would be of “great help” in weakening Russia’s military and forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire.