Russia and China begin massive war games in Sea of Japan after Trump sends two nuclear submarines to face down Putin
The US commander-in-chief ordered that two nuclear submarines be positioned near Russia before warning America is "totally prepared" for a nuclear war.
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The extraordinary escalation by Trump followed a slew of "inflammatory" threats against America from Kremlin comrade Dmitry Medvedev.
And just one day after, China and Russia began joint naval drills on Sunday as they seek to reinforce their partnership and counterbalance what they see as a US-led global order.
Dubbed "Joint Sea-2025", the exercises - although pre-planned - kicked off on Sunday in waters near the Russian port of Vladivostok and would last for three days.
The two sides will hold a number of naval operations, including "submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat", China's defence ministry said.
Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating in the exercises alongside Russian warships.
And after the drills, the two countries will conduct naval patrols in "relevant waters of the Pacific", the ministry said.
It added that the war games were aimed at "further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership" of the two countries.
China and Russia have carried out annual drills for several years, with the "Joint Sea" exercises beginning in 2012.
Last year's drills were held along China's southern coast.
Footage showed Russian warships firing during joint anti-submarine exercises with the Chinese Navy.
Donald Trump orders nuclear submarines to be moved near Russia as he blasts 'foolish' nuke threat from Putin crony
Alongside economic and political ties, Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their military cooperation in recent years.
And their relations have deepened since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
China has never denounced Russia's more than three-year war nor called for it to withdraw its troops.
Although it insists it is a neutral party regularly calling for an end to the fighting while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine.
Many of Ukraine's allies, including the US, believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow.
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WAR OF WORDS
The nuclear sabre-rattling by Trump comes after Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, made an ominous threat and warned that the US is taking drastic steps towards war with Moscow.
Trump slammed Medvedev's words as "foolish and inflammatory" before ordering the placement of nuclear submarines near Russian territory.
He said: "Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions.
Medvedev, who was the former Russian president from 2008 to 2012, seemed to threaten America with nuclear annihilation in the tit-for-tat row with Trump.
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He said: "If some words of the former Russian president [Medvedev] cause such a nervous reaction in the entire, formidable US president, then Russia is right in everything and will continue to go its own way.
"Let him remember his favorite films about the "walking dead", as well as how dangerous a "dead hand" that does not exist in nature can be."
Medvedev may have referred to Moscow's "Dead Hand" nuclear weapons system, which is designed to launch a doomsday retaliation attack with full nuclear force - even if the Kremlin leadership is wiped out.
He also warned that Russia "isn't Israel or even Iran."
Trump v Medvedev
July 2025: Donald Trump announced a 50-day deadline for Russia to move toward ending the war in Ukraine or face "severe" tariffs.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, dismissed this as a "theatrical ultimatum" that Russia "didn't care" about.
Late July 2025: President Trump reduced his deadline for Russia to secure a peace deal to just "10 or 12 days," threatening sanctions and secondary tariffs on countries that do business with Russia.
In response, Medvedev wrote on X that Trump was "playing the ultimatum game" and warned that each new ultimatum was a step toward war, not between Russia and Ukraine, but with the United States.
July 30, 2025 In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump publicly targeted Medvedev, calling him a "failed former President of Russia" who was "entering very dangerous territory" with his remarks.
This statement came as Trump also announced a 25% tariff on India, criticizing its "dead economy" and continued defense and energy ties with Moscow.
July 31, 2025" Medvedev retaliated on social media by referencing the "Dead Hand," a Cold War-era Soviet nuclear retaliation system, in a veiled threat to the US.
He also stated that Trump's "jittery reaction" proved Russia was "completely in the right" and would continue on its own path.
August 1, 2025 In a further escalation, President Trump announced he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned near Russia in response to Medvedev's "foolish and inflammatory statements."
This move highlights the dangerous rhetorical turn the conflict has taken, now including nuclear threats from both sides.
"Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war," the former Russian president wrote in an X post.
The MAGA prez hit back saying: "Just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.
"Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Trump did not say in his post whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
But in an interview with Newsmax that aired Friday night, Trump said the submarines were "closer to Russia."
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"We always want to be ready. And so I have sent to the region two nuclear submarines," he said.
"I just want to make sure that his words are only words and nothing more than that."
The US has the largest nuclear-powered submarine fleet in the world, including its lead ship the USS Virginia - a 377-feet long sub, equipped with cruise missiles.
The US has nuclear-powered attack submarines that can search for targets.
Several of the US Navy's vessels are specifically designed for stealth and are able to precisely strike targets with nuclear warheads.
The Western superpower also has larger, nuclear-armed submarines, which do not need to be repositioned as they can reach targets thousands of miles away.
It's unclear which nuclear submarines will be deployed.
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