Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Into Position Following Medvedev Remarks, Escalating Rhetoric with Moscow

 Washington, August 2 – U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the deployment of two nuclear submarines to what he described as “appropriate regions” in response to comments from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, intensifying verbal tensions between Washington and Moscow.

Trump’s directive came after Medvedev issued a pointed reminder of Russia’s Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities, following Trump’s own warning that Medvedev should “watch his words.” In a post on his social media platform Friday, Trump stated:
“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.”
He added, “Words are very important and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.”

Speaking to reporters later, Trump defended the decision, saying, “A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people.”

While the Pentagon and the U.S. Navy declined to comment on the matter — consistent with longstanding policy not to disclose submarine movements due to their strategic deterrence role — security experts noted that the United States already maintains a persistent global presence of nuclear-capable submarines. They characterized Trump's remarks as more rhetorical than operational.

Analysts Caution Against Escalatory Messaging

Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association, criticized Trump’s move as “irresponsible and inadvisable,” noting, “No leader or deputy leader should be threatening nuclear war — let alone in a juvenile manner on social media.”

Hans Kristensen, Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, pointed out that U.S. nuclear submarines, part of the strategic nuclear triad alongside land-based missiles and strategic bombers, are always positioned to be within striking range of Russia.
“The subs are always there,” Kristensen said. “There is no need to reposition them, which makes this more of a symbolic gesture than a military one.”

According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the U.S. Navy maintains 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, each capable of carrying up to 24 Trident II D5 missiles with multiple nuclear warheads. Between 8 and 10 of these submarines are typically deployed at any given time.

Political Context and Strategic Implications

Trump’s remarks come amid growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations to end the nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Trump issued a public ultimatum, stating Russia had “10 days” to agree to a ceasefire or face new tariffs.

Medvedev, currently deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has gained notoriety for his inflammatory anti-Western rhetoric since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Though often dismissed by Kremlin critics as a provocateur, some diplomats view his statements as reflective of deeper currents within Russia’s policymaking establishment.

U.S. officials had previously downplayed Medvedev’s comments, saying they were not viewed as a credible threat. Trump’s public escalation, however, could risk entangling the administration in what experts term a “commitment trap.”

“By making such threats, Trump risks raising public expectations that the U.S. might actually act on nuclear options if tensions continue to spiral,” said Kristensen.

Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Pentagon official and now Executive Director of the McCain Institute, suggested the submarine announcement was largely performative.
“This is signaling — not the start of a nuclear standoff — and likely won’t be interpreted as such by Moscow,” she said.
However, she added, “It’s unlikely this kind of rhetoric will compel Russia to alter its course in Ukraine.”

Kremlin Responds Cautiously

While President Putin made no mention of Trump’s ultimatum during his remarks on Friday, he reiterated that Russia remained open to peace talks but claimed the military momentum remained in Moscow’s favor. No reference was made to the U.S.-imposed ceasefire deadline of August 8.

Despite once boasting of his rapport with Putin, Trump has recently intensified his criticism of the Russian leader, denouncing Russia’s latest strikes on Ukraine as “disgusting” and accusing Putin of engaging in “bullshit” diplomacy.

As both nations navigate escalating tensions, experts warn that reckless nuclear rhetoric — even if not backed by direct military movements — poses serious risks in an already volatile global climate.