Donald Trump has ordered the repositioning of two United States nuclear submarines to “applicable areas” relative to Russia, because the US president grows annoyed over stalling peace talks geared toward bringing an finish to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
On Friday, Trump exchanged heated phrases with Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow’s army chief and former president.
The day earlier than, Trump had issued an ultimatum to Russia: If it doesn’t comply with a ceasefire by subsequent Friday, August 8, he’ll impose a package deal of financial sanctions.
The subsequent day, Medvedev posted on social media, describing Trump’s menace as “a step in direction of conflict”. He wrote that Trump was “enjoying the ultimatum sport with Russia”.
In a put up on Fact Social, Trump responded: “Phrases are essential, and may typically result in unintended penalties, I hope this won’t be a type of cases.”
What has Trump performed?
On Friday, Trump wrote on his Fact Social platform that he had ordered two US “Nuclear Submarines” to be repositioned to “applicable areas”.
Trump cited what he considered threatening feedback made by former Russian President Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia’s Safety Council. He known as Medvedev’s statements “extremely provocative”, including that his actions have been a precaution.
“I’ve ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned within the applicable areas, simply in case these silly and inflammatory statements are extra than simply that,” Trump wrote.
Within the run-up to his presidential marketing campaign, Trump promised to finish Russia’s conflict in Ukraine inside 24 hours; nevertheless, a number of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin have since not yielded any outcomes.
What do we all know concerning the submarines Trump says he’ll reposition?
Not a lot – and we have no idea which submarines Trump is referring to. Trump didn’t say if he had ordered the repositioning of submarines with nuclear engines or submarines carrying nuclear missiles.
Trump didn’t reveal the placement of the submarines, both, as mandated by US army protocol.
Nonetheless, Trump’s assertion is thus far being considered as a rhetorical menace, quite than a army one, as safety analysts famous that the US already has nuclear-powered submarines which might be deployed and able to hanging Russia as a deterrent.
What prompted Trump’s submarine transfer?
Largely, his frustration over the shortage of progress of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, on this case, the social media spat with Medvedev appears to have tipped him over into motion.
Trump and the Russian army chief have been engaged in mud-slinging on social media platforms for a while.
Earlier, responding to Trump’s new deadline for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Medvedev wrote in a put up on X that Trump was enjoying an “ultimatum sport” with Russia.
“Every new ultimatum is a menace and a step in direction of conflict. Not between Russia and Ukraine, however along with his personal nation. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe street!” Medvedev had mentioned.
Earlier within the week, whereas asserting commerce tariffs for India – together with an additional penalty for purchasing Russian oil – Trump said that he didn’t care if India and Russia “take their lifeless economies down collectively”.
In a Telegram put up on Thursday, Medvedev wrote that Trump ought to “revisit his favorite motion pictures concerning the dwelling lifeless and recall simply how harmful the legendary ‘Useless Hand’ might be”.
Russia’s “Useless Hand system” is a Chilly Battle-era automated nuclear retaliation mechanism designed to launch a counterstrike even when the Russian management is worn out in a primary strike.
Trump replied: “Inform Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s nonetheless President, to look at his phrases. He’s coming into very harmful territory!”
Talking to reporters after his put up concerning the nuclear submarines, Trump mentioned on Friday: “We simply need to watch out. And a menace was made and we didn’t suppose it was applicable, so I’ve to be very cautious.
“A menace was made by a former president of Russia, and we’re going to guard our individuals.”
Who has extra nuclear energy: Russia or the US?
Mixed, the US and Russia account for almost 87 p.c of the world’s complete nuclear arsenal. The geopolitical rivals management about 83 p.c of the nuclear warheads truly deployed or prepared for operational use.
Regardless of vital post-Chilly Battle reductions, international nuclear arsenals stay at a “very excessive degree”, in keeping with a report by the Federation of American Scientists. As of January 2025, simply 9 nations are estimated to own a complete of roughly 12,241 nuclear warheads.
In the present day, in keeping with the nonprofit Arms Management Affiliation, the US deploys 1,419 and Russia deploys 1,549 strategic warheads on a number of hundred bombers and missiles.
The US performed its first nuclear check explosion in July 1945; the next month, it dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 4 years later, the Soviet Union performed its first nuclear check explosion.
As of 2025, the US Navy operates 71 submarines, all nuclear‑powered, making it the biggest undersea drive. This fleet contains 14 Ohio‑class ballistic missile subs (SSBNs), 4 Ohio‑class transformed guided‑missile submarines (SSGNs) loaded with Tomahawk missiles for strikes or particular operations, and about 53 quick‑assault submarines designed for intelligence gathering, anti‑submarine warfare and cruise‑missile help.
By comparability, the Russian Navy fields fewer than 30 nuclear‑powered submarines, together with roughly 10 strategic SSBNs, a mixture of trendy Borei and older Delta IV courses, that carry Bulava missiles.
It additionally operates a number of strategic‑missile cruise boats and about six Akula‑class assault submarines outfitted for anti‑ship and multi‑function missions. Russia is investing in trendy fleet growth by way of the Yasen‑M class.
Has Russia responded to Trump’s submarine manoeuvre?
No. Neither the Kremlin nor Medvedev has publicly responded to Trump’s order to maneuver two nuclear submarines following their disagreement.
Viktor Vodolatsky, a senior Russian lawmaker and deputy chairman of the State Duma’s committee on Commonwealth of Impartial States (CIS) affairs, nevertheless, said that Russia possesses “considerably extra nuclear submarines on the earth’s oceans” than the US, claiming US subs have “lengthy been underneath their management” and, due to this fact, no particular response is required.
Final month, the US President mentioned he was “upset” with Putin.
“We’ll have a fantastic dialog. I’ll say: ‘That’s good, I’ll suppose we’re near getting it performed,’ after which he’ll knock down a constructing in Kyiv,” he advised the BBC in an interview.
On Friday, in an obvious reference to Trump’s remark, Putin mentioned: “As for any disappointments on the a part of anybody, all disappointments come up from inflated expectations. This can be a well-known common rule.”
On a ceasefire with Kyiv, Putin mentioned he needs a “lasting and secure peace” in Ukraine; nevertheless, he has not given any indication that Russia is prepared to realize it any faster.
In 2017, throughout his first time period as US president, Trump introduced that he had despatched two nuclear submarines to the Korean peninsula. Quickly afterwards, he held a gathering with the North Korean chief, Kim Jong Un.
Whether or not this newest transfer will result in a brand new assembly with Putin is but to be seen, nevertheless.