US, Japan, South Korea Foreign Ministers Sign SMR Cooperation MOU on NATO Summit Sidelines
Top diplomats from the US, Japan, and South Korea formalized cooperation on small modular reactors in Ankara, as NATO leaders convened for the main session of their summit and India and Indonesia issued a joint statement.
The conversation that mattered
On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun convened for a trilateral meeting and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on small modular reactor (SMR) deployments. The MOC aims to establish a framework for trilateral cooperation to accelerate SMR deployments in other countries, with an initial focus on the Indo-Pacific, advancing mutual security interests and energy needs.
The ministers also discussed the increasingly severe strategic environment and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, addressing its cyber activities, and emphasizing peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The United States is committing over $10 million in new funding for the FIRST Program to provide technical support for SMR deployment in the Indo-Pacific. This trilateral initiative signals a concerted effort to bolster energy security and strategic coordination in the region, with further trilateral engagements expected.
Today's meetings
NATO Heads of State and Government
Actor Two: NATO Member States
Venue Or Format: Ankara Summit, Presidential Complex
What Was Discussed: Leaders gathered for the main session to discuss defense investment, military production, support for Ukraine, regional security, and burden-sharing.
Signal: The summit's main session underscores alliance unity on key security challenges and collective defense commitments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India)
Actor Two: President Prabowo Subianto (Indonesia)
Venue Or Format: Istana Merdeka, Jakarta
What Was Discussed: Discussions covered political engagement, defense and security cooperation, maritime cooperation, trade, and regional developments, culminating in a joint statement.
Signal: This state visit reinforces a comprehensive strategic partnership and commitment to regular high-level exchanges.
Joint statements + readouts
United States, Japan, South Korea
Topic: Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Cooperation
Key Line: The Memorandum of Cooperation aims to promote coordination among private sector stakeholders of the three countries regarding the deployment of SMRs in third-party countries and to enhance energy security in the Indo-Pacific region, while ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation.
India, Indonesia
Topic: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Key Line: Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open, transparent, rules-based, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Multilateral pulse
NATO Summit in Ankara. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated he expects alliance leaders to reaffirm that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and call for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Leaders are also expected to emphasize progress towards the commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
Bilateral threads worth following
US ↔ Iran
Current State: Tensions are escalating following US strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's accusation of MoU violation.
Last Move: On Tuesday, Iran's foreign ministry accused the US of repeatedly violating their memorandum of understanding and threatened retaliation after American forces struck targets in the Strait of Hormuz.
India ↔ Indonesia
Current State: The two nations are strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing on defense, maritime, and economic ties.
Last Move: Prime Minister Modi concluded a state visit to Indonesia on July 8, following bilateral talks with President Subianto on July 7 and the issuance of a joint statement.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- The NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, is scheduled to conclude today, July 8, with a final declaration expected from the heads of state and government.
- The next round of negotiations between the United States and Iran is expected to take place on July 11 in Pakistan, focusing on sanctions, frozen assets, and the nuclear file.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.