US Deploys Nuclear Submarines in Response to Russian Ex-President's Threats

Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to undisclosed regions in response to provocative statements made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Russia over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "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." He did not clarify whether the submarines are nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, in line with US military protocol.

Speaking to reporters later that day, Trump emphasized the need for caution, saying, "A threat was made, and we didn’t think it was appropriate. I do that on the basis of safety for our people." He added, "We’re totally prepared," underscoring the US's readiness to respond if necessary. The deployment follows a series of inflammatory exchanges between Trump and Medvedev, who has been vocal in his criticism of the US president. Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, accused Trump of issuing ultimatums and escalating tensions. In a post on X, he described Trump’s demands as a “step towards war” and referenced Russia’s “dead hand” nuclear retaliatory system on Telegram, raising concerns among military analysts. Trump’s decision comes after he issued a new ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, demanding an end to the Ukraine conflict by 8 August. This follows earlier deadlines, including a 50-day ultimatum in July and a 10-to-12-day demand earlier this week, both of which Putin has ignored. Trump has threatened severe tariffs on Russian oil and other exports if the war continues. The Kremlin has not yet commented publicly on the submarine deployment, but Moscow’s stock market saw a sharp decline following Trump’s announcement. The personal feud between Trump and Medvedev has intensified in recent days, with Trump warning the former Russian leader to “watch his words” and describing him as a “failed former president” who is “entering very dangerous territory.” Both the US and Russia maintain the world’s largest nuclear arsenals and operate fleets of nuclear submarines, heightening the stakes of the current standoff. As tensions rise, the international community is closely monitoring the situation for any further escalation.