As the US president grows frustrated over stalled peace negotiations aimed at putting an end to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, Donald Trump has mandated that two American nuclear submarines be relocated to “appropriate regions” relative to Russia.
Trump and former president and military leader Dmitry Medvedev heated up on Friday.
Trump had already issued an ultimatum to Russia the day before, saying that he would impose a package of economic sanctions against it if it fails to ratify a ceasefire by Friday, August 8.
Medvedev described Trump’s threat as “a step toward war” in a post from the following day on social media. Trump “playing the ultimatum game with Russia,” he claimed.
Trump responded to Trump’s response on Truth Social, “I hope this will not be one of those situations where words can frequently have unintended consequences.”
Trump’s actions: what?
Trump announced on Friday that he had ordered the relocation of two of the country’s “Nuclear Submarines” to “appropriate regions.”
Trump cited comments made by former Russian President Medvedev, who is now the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, that he thought were threatening. He explained that Medvedev’s actions were a precaution, and that his statements were “highly provocative.”
In case these obscene and uproarious statements are more than that, Trump wrote, “I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions.”
Trump made the promise to end Russia’s war with Ukraine in the days before his election as president, but discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin have since had no impact.
What information does Trump intend to share about the submarines?
Not much, and we’re not sure what submarines Trump’s talking about. Trump did not specify whether he had ordered the relocation of nuclear-powered submarines or those carrying nuclear missiles.
Trump did not disclose the submarines’ locations, as required by US military policy.
Security analysts noted that the US already has nuclear-armed submarines in place and capable of striking Russia as a deterrent, but Trump’s statement is currently being seen as a rhetorical threat rather than a military threat.
Why did Trump’s submarine move?
His frustration, in particular, with the stalwart progress of Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations. However, in this instance, Medvedev appears to have gotten into a social media conflict.
Trump and the head of the Russian military have been mud-slinging frequently on social media.
Medvedev previously stated in a post on X that Trump was playing an “ultimatum game” with Russia in response to Trump’s new ceasefire deadline for Ukraine.
“Each new ultimatum represents a threat and a war step. His own nation is involved, not Russia and Ukraine. Don’t take the Sleepy Joe route, “! Medvedev had stated.
Trump stated earlier this week that he did not care if India and Russia “take their dead economies down together” when he announced trade tariffs for India and an additional penalty for buying Russian oil.
Medvedev advised Trump to “revisit his favorite movies about the living dead and recall how perilous the mythical “Dead Hand” can be,” according to Medvedev in a Telegram post on Thursday.
Russians’ “Dead Hand system,” a nuclear retaliation mechanism created during the Cold War, was intended to launch a counterstrike even if the Russian leadership was completely destroyed in a first strike.
Trump responded, “Tell Medvedev, the lone former Russian president, who believes he still holds office, to watch his words.” He’s entering “very dangerous” territory!
Trump said on Friday in a press conference that “we just need to be careful.” And a threat was made, which we didn’t believe was appropriate, so I have to be very cautious.
We will defend our people in the wake of a threat made by a former Russian president.
Which country, Russia or the US, has more nuclear weapons?
Nearly 87 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal is made up of Russia and the US, respectively. About 83 percent of nuclear warheads are actually deployed or ready for use are controlled by geopolitical rivals.
Global nuclear arsenals are still at a “very high level,” according to a report released by the Federation of American Scientists despite significant post-Cold War reductions. Just nine nations, according to estimates, have a total of 12, 241 nuclear warheads as of January 2025.
The US and Russia both currently deploy 1, 549 strategic warheads on several hundred bombers and missiles, according to the nonprofit Arms Control Association.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan’s capital cities, were bombed by the US for its first nuclear test explosion in July 1945. The Soviet Union’s first nuclear test explosion occurred four years later.
The US Navy has the largest underwater force in the world, with 71 submarines running all nuclear power as of 2025. This fleet includes 14 ballistic missile subs (SSBNs) from the Ohio class, four converted guided missile submarines (SSGNs) from the Ohio class, and about 53 fast-attack submarines designed for cruise missile support, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering.
Comparatively, the Russian Navy operates only 30 nuclear-powered submarines, including about 10 strategic SSBNs, which are a mix of the modern Borei and older Delta IV classes, that carry Bulava missiles.
Additionally, it has six Akula class attack submarines that are equipped for antiship and multirole missions and several strategic missile cruise ships. Through the Yasen M class, Russia is funding the modern fleet expansion.
Trump’s submarine maneuver: Has Russia reacted?
No. Following their verbal spat, Trump and Medvedev haven’t responded in public to their order to move two nuclear submarines.
However, Viktor Vodolatsky, a senior Russian lawmaker and deputy chairman of the State Duma’s committee on Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) affairs, claimed that Russia has “significantly more nuclear submarines in the world’s oceans than the US, claiming that US subs have long been under their control, and that no specific response is needed.
The US President expressed disappointment with Putin last month by saying so.
We’ll have a lively discussion, ” ” He told the BBC in an interview that he would say, “That’s good, I’ll think we’re close to getting it done,” and that he would knock down a building in Kyiv after that.
Putin said on Friday, “Any disappointments arise from inflated expectations, and all disappointments result from inflated expectations,” in an apparent reference to Trump’s statement. This general rule is well-known.
Putin stated on a ceasefire with Kyiv that he wanted a “durable and stable peace” in Ukraine, but he hasn’t provided any evidence that Russia is ready to do so much.
Trump announced that he had sent two nuclear submarines to the Korean Peninsula in his first year as president of the United States. He and Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, met shortly afterward.
Source: Aljazeera
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