U.S. Pushes Nuclear Energy Expansion in Central Asia and Caucasus

The United States is making a fresh push to promote the use of American nuclear energy technology in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Shawna J. Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Security Programs, traveled to both regions recently for meetings with Armenian and Kazakh officials that explored ways to advance US nuclear cooperation with both countries.

The United States and Armenia finalized a nuclear cooperation deal in February during a visit to Yerevan by Vice President JD Vance. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, signed an agreement in late 2025 covering US training assistance for Kazakh technicians in the nuclear sector. US cooperation has focused on the construction and safe operation of small modular nuclear reactors SMRs.