Russia's Rosatom in Talks With US on Small Nuclear Plants to Power AI Data Centers

Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom is in discussions with the United States about potential cooperation on small nuclear power plants designed to supply electricity to artificial intelligence data centers, according to Russian state news agency RIA. The talks mark an unusual diplomatic overture given existing sanctions and strained US-Russia relations, and reflect the surging energy demands of AI infrastructure as a factor now shaping geopolitical conversations.

Small modular reactors and compact nuclear plants have become a focal point globally as tech companies race to secure reliable, low-carbon power for data centers running energy-intensive AI workloads. Rosatom, which operates one of the world's largest civilian nuclear portfolios and has exported reactor technology across multiple continents, has positioned itself as a supplier in this space. Significant legal and regulatory hurdles, including US sanctions on Russian entities, would need to be resolved before any such partnership could advance.