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President Donald Trump said Friday he has ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to reposition near Russia in response to what he called “highly provocative” remarks from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Trump announced the move on Truth Social, saying the subs were being sent “to the appropriate regions” as a precaution. He did not specify the submarines’ location or whether they were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences,” Trump wrote. “I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
The deployment follows Medvedev’s warning Thursday that Moscow retains Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities. Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s National Security Council, has escalated rhetoric against the U.S. since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.
The move comes amid tense U.S.-Russia relations and as Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, travels to Moscow to push for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump has threatened new sanctions if progress is not made, shortening his deadline for action from 50 to 10 days, which expires next week.
The exchange of threats continued online. Early Thursday, Trump called Medvedev a “failed former President of Russia” and warned him to “watch his words.” Medvedev responded, “Russia is right on everything and will continue to go its own way.”
Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, when he was seen as a liberal reformer. Since the Ukraine conflict, he has adopted hardline positions, widely seen as attempts to appeal to President Vladimir Putin and Russian military hawks.
With information from Euronews.
