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Unitd States President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to what he described as “highly provocative” comments by a senior Russian official.
“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,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances,” he added.
Trump did not specify whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not provide details on their locations, which the U.S. military keeps secret.
The United States and Russia control the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons. Washington maintains nuclear-armed submarines on patrol as part of its nuclear triad, which includes land-, sea-, and air-launched weapons.
Trump did not specify what comments by Medvedev prompted this unusual public display of nuclear saber-rattling.
On Monday, Medvedev sharply criticized Trump’s threat of new sanctions against Russia over the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Accusing Trump of “playing the ultimatum game,” Medvedev wrote on X that Trump “should remember” Russia is a formidable force.
“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and is a vocal supporter of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and confrontational stance toward the West.
He served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, effectively acting as a placeholder for Putin, who circumvented constitutional term limits to remain in power.
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