Investors today frequently associate the bull case for the nuclear energy sector with the adoption of AI and the construction of data centers. While the AI story bolsters the case for nuclear power adoption, it is far from the only reason nuclear energy has received increased attention over the past couple years. Recalling the slew of executive orders (EOs) signed by President Trump in May of 2025, one of the longest sections wasn’t about AI. Rather, it detailed the directive for promoting American nuclear exports.
Nuclear's Geopolitical Strength
If a nation wants to pursue commercial nuclear energy but does not have the industrial capabilities to start it themselves, they will look to another country to support their endeavor. The country looking for new nuclear energy will bring more stability to their grid and high-paying jobs for their citizens to operate the facility. The nation providing the nuclear technology has the potential to realize financial gain from the construction project in the country as well as the long-term fuel and maintenance services that will be required over the life of the plant.
Arguably, the exporting country’s biggest gain is not financial. It’s the deep political strength derived from another country relying on their nuclear services instead of those of an adversary. Given that the life of some reactor plants are now projected to exceed 100 years, this is a significant political bond that could last over a century.
The U.S. Is Prioritizing Nuclear Exports
Within the executive order for deploying advanced nuclear reactor technologies for national security, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy are directed to pursue multiple pathways for securing new agreements with other nations for exporting American reactor technology. The current administration wants to build reactors like Westinghouse’s (CCJ) AP1000, GE Vernova’s (GEV) BWRX-300, and NuScale’s (SMR) NPM, in as many countries as possible.
The administration has made major headway with these efforts, signing civilian nuclear agreements with Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Armenia. These agreements have varied in scope, but the objective remains the same: to deepen relationships with these countries and avoid needing to rely on other nuclear technology exporters like China or Russia.
Most of the countries the U.S. has engaged with so far currently host Russian nuclear infrastructure. Now they are turning to U.S. nuclear technology for their latest expansions. The U.S. has even found ways to take over the engineering and fuel services handled by Russia with Westinghouse designing a fuel that works in Russian reactors. Other companies like Lightbridge (LTBR) are also designing fuel that works in reactors designed by multiple different countries.
CCJ, GEV, SMR, and LTBR are constituents of the VettaFi Nuclear Renaissance Index (NUKZX). NUKZX is the underlying index for the Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ ).
For more on the role of geopolitics in nuclear’s comeback, please join our 30-minute webcast on March 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Register here.
For investors interested in the global growth opportunity for nuclear power, NUKZX includes a diversified group of companies across the nuclear value chain. Constituents include reactor developers like GEV, as well as companies focused on fuel, construction and services, and utilities (read more
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