Trump deploys two nuclear submarines in response to Russia's "provocative" remarks

Saturday 02 August 2025 - 07:30

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to "appropriate zones" in response to what he called "provocative" comments by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate areas, just in case these foolish and incendiary statements turn out to be more serious than they appear. Words matter and can often have unintended consequences—I hope that won’t be the case this time.”

He did not clarify the exact locations of the submarines, nor whether they were nuclear-powered or equipped with nuclear warheads. Trump also did not specify which of Medvedev's remarks he was reacting to.

On Thursday, Medvedev harshly criticized Trump via the messaging app Telegram, referencing the "Dead Hand"—a Cold War-era automated nuclear retaliation system that remains shrouded in secrecy. Medvedev, now the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused Trump of escalating tensions with each new deadline he set for ending the war in Ukraine.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) dated July 28, Medvedev wrote that Trump's ultimatums to end the Ukraine conflict constituted a “threat and a step toward war” with the United States.

Trump, who returned to office in January 2025 at the age of 79, initially made a bold diplomatic outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, believing his personal rapport with the Kremlin leader could swiftly end the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the promised results failed to materialize, and Trump’s stance has shifted to a more confrontational tone.

The U.S. president is now threatening harsh economic sanctions against Russia, including “secondary sanctions” aimed at countries that continue to purchase Russian oil. The goal is to cut off vital financial resources that sustain Russia’s military operations.