Donald Trump has ordered the repositioning of two United States nuclear submarines to “acceptable areas” relative to Russia, because the US president grows annoyed over stalling peace talks geared toward bringing an finish to Russia’s struggle 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 economic sanctions.
The subsequent day, Medvedev posted on social media, describing Trump’s risk as “a step in direction of struggle”. He wrote that Trump was “taking part in the ultimatum sport with Russia”.
In a put up on Fact Social, Trump responded: “Phrases are crucial, and might usually result in unintended penalties, I hope this is not going to be a type of situations.”
What has Trump carried out?
On Friday, Trump wrote on his Fact Social platform that he had ordered two US “Nuclear Submarines” to be repositioned to “acceptable areas”.
Trump cited what he thought to be threatening feedback made by former Russian President Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia’s Safety Council. He referred to as Medvedev’s statements “extremely provocative”, including that his actions had been a precaution.
“I’ve ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned within the acceptable 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 struggle in Ukraine inside 24 hours; nonetheless, a number of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin have since not yielded any outcomes.
What do we all know in regards to 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.
Nevertheless, Trump’s assertion is thus far being considered as a rhetorical risk, quite than a army one, as safety analysts famous that the US already has nuclear-powered submarines which are deployed and able to placing Russia as a deterrent.
What prompted Trump’s submarine transfer?
Principally, 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 taking part in an “ultimatum sport” with Russia.
“Every new ultimatum is a risk and a step in direction of struggle. Not between Russia and Ukraine, however along with his personal nation. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe highway!” Medvedev had mentioned.
Earlier within the week, whereas saying trade tariffs for India – together with an additional penalty for getting Russian oil – Trump acknowledged 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 films in regards to the residing lifeless and recall simply how harmful the legendary ‘Useless Hand’ will be”.
Russia’s “Useless Hand system” is a Chilly Conflict-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 observe his phrases. He’s getting into very harmful territory!”
Chatting with reporters after his put up in regards to the nuclear submarines, Trump mentioned on Friday: “We simply must watch out. And a risk was made and we didn’t suppose it was acceptable, so I’ve to be very cautious.
“A risk was made by a former president of Russia, and we’re going to guard our folks.”
Who has extra nuclear energy: Russia or the US?
Mixed, the US and Russia account for almost 87 p.c of the world’s whole nuclear arsenal. The geopolitical rivals management about 83 p.c of the nuclear warheads really deployed or prepared for operational use.
Regardless of important post-Chilly Conflict reductions, world nuclear arsenals stay at a “very excessive degree”, based on a report by the Federation of American Scientists. As of January 2025, simply 9 international locations are estimated to own a complete of roughly 12,241 nuclear warheads.
Right now, based on 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 take a look at 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 take a look at explosion.
As of 2025, the US Navy operates 71 submarines, all nuclear‑powered, making it the most important 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 assist.
By comparability, the Russian Navy fields fewer than 30 nuclear‑powered submarines, together with roughly 10 strategic SSBNs, a mixture of fashionable 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 geared up for anti‑ship and multi‑function missions. Russia is investing in fashionable 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, nonetheless, acknowledged that Russia possesses “considerably extra nuclear submarines on this planet’s oceans” than the US, claiming US subs have “lengthy been underneath their management” and, subsequently, no particular response is required.
Final month, the US President mentioned he was “disenchanted” with Putin.
“We’ll have an ideal dialog. I’ll say: ‘That’s good, I’ll suppose we’re near getting it carried out,’ 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 normal rule.”
On a ceasefire with Kyiv, Putin mentioned he needs a “lasting and secure peace” in Ukraine; nonetheless, he has not given any indication that Russia is keen 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, nonetheless.
