Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines After Russian Threat

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had ordered the repositioning of two nuclear submarines in response to remarks made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The move follows escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow.

Trump Reacts to Russian Provocation

“Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev … I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump wrote on social media.
He further added, “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.”

Security Experts Warn of Escalation

Experts suggest this move may be more symbolic than strategic, as the U.S. already maintains nuclear-capable submarines around the world. Hans Kristensen from the Federation of American Scientists said, “The subs are always there all the time and don’t need to be moved into position.” He noted that Trump’s move “grants Medvedev a response to these crazy statements.”

Trump Defends His Decision

Asked about the decision later, Trump stated: “A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we’re going to protect our people.” The Pentagon and U.S. Navy declined to comment on the movement or deployment of the submarines.

Medvedev’s Remarks Sparked the Action

On Thursday, Medvedev warned Trump not to forget Russia’s Soviet-era nuclear capabilities, after Trump had earlier told him to “watch his words.” Though U.S. officials did not view Medvedev’s words as a serious threat, Trump’s public exchange appears to have escalated the situation.

Criticism of Trump’s Statement

Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association criticized Trump’s response, saying: “This is irresponsible and inadvisable. No leader or deputy leader should be threatening nuclear war, let alone in a juvenile manner on social media.”

Background on U.S. Submarine Forces

The U.S. Navy operates 14 Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines, each capable of launching up to 24 Trident II ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. Typically, 8 to 10 of these submarines are deployed at any time.

Broader U.S.-Russia Tensions

The incident comes amid rising frustration from Trump over Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Trump recently gave Russia a deadline of “10 days” to agree to a ceasefire or face tariffs. Russia has not responded positively to this demand.
Putin stated on Friday that peace talks were possible but claimed the war’s momentum favors Moscow.

Experts Play Down Nuclear Risks

Despite the rhetoric, analysts like Evelyn Farkas from the McCain Institute believe the move does not signal an actual nuclear confrontation. “It’s really signaling. It’s not the beginning of some nuclear confrontation, and nobody reads it as such,” she said.