Trump sends nuclear submarines near Russia after Putin aide's 'dead hand' threat

US President Trump announced on social media that two nuclear submarines have been deployed near Russia in response to foolish and inflammatory statements by Dimitry Medvedev.

In Short

• Two nuclear submarines deployed near Russia
• Submarines deployed a day after Dmitry Medvedev's threats
• Trump said deployment was in response to Medvedev's foolish statements

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned near Russian territory in response to "foolish and inflammatory" threats made by former Russian President 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 posted on Truth Social.

Responding to the announcement, Russian lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky downplayed the threat, claiming Russia already has superior strategic control over the oceans. "The number of Russian nuclear submarines in the world's oceans is significantly higher than the American ones, and the subs Trump ordered have long been under our control," he told state-run news agency TASS. He added that no further response from Russia was necessary

'DEAD ECONOMIES' TO 'DEAD HAND'

Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, invoked the "Dead Hand"—a Cold War-era system designed by Moscow that would automatically launch a retaliatory nuclear strike if the Soviet Union—present-day Russia—were attacked, even if its leadership were incapacitated.

The showdown between Trump and Medvedev on Thursday was triggered by the US President imposing 25 percent tariffs on India over its purchase of energy from Russia.

"As for the talk about the 'dead economies' of India and Russia, and 'entering dangerous territory' - maybe he should recall his favourite movies about 'the walking dead,' and also remember how dangerous the so-called 'Dead Hand,' which doesn't even exist, could be," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

In the same Truth Social post where Trump announced the levies on Indian imports to the US, he also took a potshot at both Medvedev and Russia, saying, "Tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory!"

This was in response to Medvedev warning Trump after the US reduced the ceasefire deadline with Ukraine from 50 days to just 10–12 days, threatening "secondary tariffs" if the deadline was not met.

Earlier, responding to a media question over US State Department Secretary Marco Rubio's recent interview with Fox News, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia agrees with the US administration that a direct military confrontation between Moscow and Washington must not happen.

- Ends