Why is Trump moving nuclear submarines after spat with Medvedev?

Al Jazeera

4 days ago

Donald Trump has ordered the repositioning of two United States nuclear submarines to 'appropriate regions' relative to Russia, as the US president grows frustrated over stalling peace talks aimed at bringing an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.
On Friday, Trump exchanged heated words with Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow's military leader and former president.
The day before, Trump had issued an ultimatum to Russia: If it does not agree to a ceasefire by next Friday, August 8, he will impose a package of economic sanctions.
The next day, Medvedev posted on social media, describing Trump's threat as 'a step towards war'. He wrote that Trump was 'playing the ultimatum game with Russia'.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump responded: 'Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.'
What has Trump done?
On Friday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had ordered two US 'Nuclear Submarines' to be repositioned to 'appropriate regions'.
Trump cited what he regarded as threatening comments made by former Russian President Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia's Security Council. He called Medvedev's statements 'highly provocative', adding that his actions were a precaution.
'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.
In the run-up to his presidential campaign, Trump promised to end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours; however, several discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin have since not yielded any results.
What do we know about the submarines Trump says he will reposition?
Not much – and we do not know which submarines Trump is referring to. Trump did not say if he had ordered the repositioning of submarines with nuclear engines or submarines carrying nuclear missiles.
Trump did not reveal the location of the submarines, either, as mandated by US military protocol.
However, Trump's statement is so far being viewed as a rhetorical threat, rather than a military one, as security analysts noted that the US already has nuclear-powered submarines that are deployed and capable of striking Russia as a deterrent.
What prompted Trump's submarine move?
Mostly, his frustration over the lack of progress of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. But, in this case, the social media spat with Medvedev seems to have tipped him over into action.
Trump and the Russian military leader have been engaged in mud-slinging on social media platforms for some time.
Earlier, responding to Trump's new deadline for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Medvedev wrote in a post on X that Trump was playing an 'ultimatum game' with Russia.
'Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!' Medvedev had said.
Earlier in the week, while announcing trade tariffs for India – along with an extra penalty for buying Russian oil – Trump stated that he did not care if India and Russia 'take their dead economies down together'.
In a Telegram post on Thursday, Medvedev wrote that Trump should 'revisit his favourite movies about the living dead and recall just how dangerous the mythical 'Dead Hand' can be'.
Russia's 'Dead Hand system' is a Cold War-era automatic nuclear retaliation mechanism designed to launch a counterstrike even if the Russian leadership is wiped out in a first strike.
Trump replied: 'Tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory!'
Speaking to reporters after his post about the nuclear submarines, Trump said on Friday: 'We just have to be careful. And a threat was made and we didn't think it was appropriate, so I have to be very careful.
'A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people.'
Who has more nuclear power: Russia or the US?
Combined, the US and Russia account for nearly 87 percent of the world's total nuclear arsenal. The geopolitical rivals control about 83 percent of the nuclear warheads actually deployed or ready for operational use.
Despite significant post-Cold War reductions, global nuclear arsenals remain at a 'very high level', according to a report by the Federation of American Scientists. As of January 2025, just nine countries are estimated to possess a total of approximately 12,241 nuclear warheads.
Today, according to the nonprofit Arms Control Association, the US deploys 1,419 and Russia deploys 1,549 strategic warheads on several hundred bombers and missiles.
The US conducted its first nuclear test explosion in July 1945; the following month, it dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Four years later, the Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test explosion.
As of 2025, the US Navy operates 71 submarines, all nuclear‑powered, making it the largest undersea force. This fleet includes 14 Ohio‑class ballistic missile subs (SSBNs), four Ohio‑class converted guided‑missile submarines (SSGNs) loaded with Tomahawk missiles for strikes or special operations, and about 53 fast‑attack submarines designed for intelligence gathering, anti‑submarine warfare and cruise‑missile support.
By comparison, the Russian Navy fields fewer than 30 nuclear‑powered submarines, including approximately 10 strategic SSBNs, a mix of modern Borei and older Delta IV classes, that carry Bulava missiles.
It also operates several strategic‑missile cruise boats and about six Akula‑class attack submarines equipped for anti‑ship and multi‑role missions. Russia is investing in modern fleet expansion through 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 move two nuclear submarines following their war of words.
Viktor Vodolatsky, a senior Russian lawmaker and deputy chairman of the State Duma's committee on Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) affairs, however, stated that Russia possesses 'significantly more nuclear submarines in the world's oceans' than the US, claiming US subs have 'long been under their control' and, therefore, no specific response is required.
Last month, the US President said he was 'disappointed' with Putin.
'We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv,' he told the BBC in an interview.
On Friday, in an apparent reference to Trump's comment, Putin said: 'As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. This is a well-known general rule.'
On a ceasefire with Kyiv, Putin said he wants a 'lasting and stable peace' in Ukraine; however, he has not given any indication that Russia is willing to achieve it any quicker.
In 2017, during his first term as US president, Trump announced that he had sent two nuclear submarines to the Korean peninsula. Soon afterwards, he held a meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.
Whether this latest move will lead to a new meeting with Putin is yet to be seen, however.