By M10News International Desk
Donald Trump says he has ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to be moved to “appropriate regions” in response to what he described as “highly provocative” comments from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The development follows rising tensions between the two leaders over Russia’s war in Ukraine and the threat of punitive U.S. trade measures.
Trump, currently campaigning for re-election, issued an ultimatum earlier this week, demanding that Russia agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within ten days.
Failing that, he warned, the Kremlin and its oil-buying allies would face heavy tariffs. The proposal has been firmly rejected by Moscow.
In a social media post on Friday, Trump said the deployment of nuclear submarines was a precautionary response to Medvedev’s remarks.
“Just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” he wrote, warning that language can lead to “unintended consequences.”
President Trump specifically cited Medvedev’s reference to a Cold War-era automated nuclear system known as “dead hand,” a retaliatory mechanism designed to launch Russian missiles if the nation’s leadership is incapacitated.
The system has rarely been mentioned in public by top Russian officials.
Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, made the comments on Thursday. He reminded Washington that Russia retains its Soviet-era nuclear deterrence capabilities and accused Trump of playing a dangerous game with global stability.
He further criticised Trump’s ceasefire deadline as a “game of ultimatums,” adding that each new demand amounted to a “step towards war” between Russia and the United States. The statement was seen as a direct challenge to Trump’s bid to pressure Moscow through economic threats.
The exchange has heightened concerns about renewed nuclear brinkmanship between the U.S. and Russia. It also underscores the continued role of hardline rhetoric in Russian foreign policy, with Medvedev emerging in recent years as one of the Kremlin’s most hawkish voices.
Although Medvedev once held a more moderate image during his 2008–2012 presidency, analysts say his tone shifted dramatically following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He has since made several alarming public statements invoking nuclear escalation.
Trump’s move to publicise the repositioning of nuclear submarines marks a notable shift from typical strategic ambiguity. While the U.S. Navy does not confirm the location of its nuclear assets, such statements carry symbolic weight in international relations.
At the time of writing, there has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon regarding any change in submarine deployments.
However, Trump’s post has already triggered debate over the wisdom and legality of such unilateral military messaging by a former president.
The clash between Trump and Medvedev adds to the growing uncertainty around how future U.S. leadership might engage with Russia as the war in Ukraine enters its third year with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight.
Editing by M10News International Desk | Contact: info@m10news.com
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