US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to what he called “highly provocative” remarks by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
“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 wrote 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 the submarines are nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor did he disclose their deployment locations -- details the US military typically keeps classified.
The United States and Russia collectively possess the vast majority of the world’s nuclear arsenal. As part of its nuclear triad -- land-based missiles, strategic bombers, and submarine-launched weapons -- the US routinely keeps nuclear-armed submarines on patrol.
Trump did not clarify which of Medvedev’s comments triggered the move, but the Russian official had made several sharp statements in recent days. In a post on Telegram Thursday, Medvedev took aim at Trump and referenced the so-called “Dead Hand” -- a Cold War-era automated nuclear command system believed to still exist in Russia.
This reference followed Trump’s earlier remarks mocking the “dead economies” of Russia and India.
Earlier in the week, Medvedev also reacted strongly to Trump’s threat of imposing new sanctions on Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he accused Trump of issuing ultimatums and warned of the potential for escalation.
“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,” Medvedev posted Monday.
Currently serving as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Medvedev has become a strident supporter of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and a frequent critic of the West. He served as president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 during a period when Putin stepped aside to sidestep term limits, while still retaining de facto power.
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