Trump Repositions Nuclear Submarines amid Escalating US-Russian War of Words
The US President, Donald Trump, has ordered the repositioning of two US nuclear submarines in “the appropriate regions” amid an escalating war of words with Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev.
The decision was a response to what the US President called Medvedev’s “highly provocative statements” as the two men have been engaged in a series of verbal attacks on social media following Trump’s deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine by August 8, 2025.
Deploying Nuclear Submarines
On Friday, Trump posted on social media that he would deploy two US nuclear submarines in the “appropriate regions” in response to Medvedev’s threats.
“Based on the highly provocative statements of the former president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that his decision came “just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that. Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
Responding to Russian Threats
The US President said that he aimed by this decision to protect the US people against Russian threats. “A threat was made, and we didn’t think it was appropriate. So I have to be very careful,” he told reporters later on Friday.
“I do that on the basis of safety for our people. A threat was made by a former president of Russia. And we’re going to protect our people,” Trump added, according to the Associated Press (AP).
“When you talk about nuclear, we have to be prepared. And we’re totally prepared,” Trump said during an interview with Newsmax, adding that the submarines were being moved “closer to Russia.”
Submarine Capabilities
The US and Russia possess the largest nuclear arsenals in the world and both countries have a fleet of nuclear submarines. The US has a fleet of 71 nuclear-powered submarines, including 14 Ohio-class Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs), 53 Nuclear-Powered attack submarines (SSNs), and 4 Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN).
Meanwhile, the Russian Navy possesses a fleet of 64 nuclear submarines, including 16 SSBNs, 14 SSNs, 11 SSGN, and 23 Diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs), according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative arms control group.
Russia’s Deadline
The latest rhetoric escalation between Medvedev and Trump began after the latter set a deadline for Russia to agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine. On July 29, Trump said Moscow had “10 days from today” to end the war, cutting his previous 50-day deadline.
On this matter, the US President said that his Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, was traveling to Russia to push for a ceasefire that brings the war in Ukraine to an end, threatening new economic sanctions against Moscow and it oil buyers in case no progress was made.
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, for his part, showed no sign of changing his stance on the war. On Friday, he that said Moscow hoped for more peace talks with Ukraine but that the momentum of the war was in its favor, reported Reuters.
“As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. This is a well-known general rule,” he said, without explicitly referring to Trump.
“But in order to approach the issue peacefully, it is necessary to conduct detailed conversations. And not in public, but this must be done calmly, in the quiet of the negotiation process,” Putin noted.
Trump-Medvedev War of Words
Medvedev was Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012 and is the current deputy chairman of Russia’s National Security Council. He has been known for his provocative and inflammatory remarks, especially against Western leaders, since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022.
The US President’s statements prompted Medvedev to raise the prospect of war in a series of online posts. In response to Trumps’ deadline, the Russian official wrote on X: “Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10. He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.”
Trump issued a warning to Medvedev. “Tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!” he posted on Truth Social.
Hours later, Medvedev posted on Telegram that “Russia is doing everything right and will continue to proceed along its own path.” He also reminded Trump of the “Dead Hand,” a semi-automated Russian command system designed to launch nuclear missiles if its leaders were killed in a decapitating strike.
