U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated tensions in the ongoing power struggle with Russia by announcing he would order the deployment of two nuclear submarines to “appropriate areas” in response to what he described as provocations from Moscow.
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According to The Times, this move is not unusual in military terms — the U.S. routinely has about 20 of its 71 nuclear-powered submarines deployed at sea, often near Russian waters during heightened tensions. However, what’s striking is that Trump chose to publicize this action, signaling two core messages: first, that he is a man of action; and second, a strategic warning.
A Direct Response to Medvedev… and a Message to Putin
Trump’s move fits his well-known pattern of reacting forcefully to provocation. This time, he was responding specifically to Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president turned controversial online figure. After Trump shortened the deadline he gave Moscow to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine, Medvedev warned that "each new ultimatum is a step closer to war. Not with Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t follow Sleepy Joe’s path!”
The statements were seen as an attempt to intimidate Trump, who frequently warns of a looming “World War III” — a fear he’s previously accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of "gambling with" during their Oval Office confrontation. Medvedev’s comments also appeared aimed at irking Trump by comparing him to his predecessor Joe Biden.
Still, Medvedev was not the primary target of Trump’s message. Observers note Trump’s rhetoric toward President Vladimir Putin has grown increasingly critical in recent months.
Cautious Criticism
While Trump has ramped up his criticism of Putin — recently calling Russia’s actions “disgusting” and accusing Putin of “lying” — he continues to tread carefully, avoiding direct provocation. Trump still believes he has a working relationship with the Russian president.
Interestingly, Medvedev’s Monday post came shortly after Putin rejected Trump’s proposed deadline for a peace deal — adding to the pressure on the former U.S. president to assert a stronger stance.
Trump’s reference to “nuclear submarines” was deliberately vague — likely to leave open a range of options from his command of the U.S. Navy fleet.
Of the U.S.'s 71 nuclear-powered submarines, 14 are Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines capable of carrying up to 20 Trident II missiles, which can be fitted with nuclear warheads. At any given time, 8 to 10 of these vessels are on patrol worldwide.
According to The Times, the White House believes Putin will interpret Trump’s submarine diplomacy not as a provocation but as a deterrent — a defensive rather than offensive move aimed at preventing the resurgence of inflammatory nuclear rhetoric, especially in response to Medvedev’s isolated remarks.
Sanctions and Tariff Pressure on Allies
In parallel, Trump has intensified his economic pressure campaign, including threats of secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian energy. India has already been partially targeted, with Trump announcing a general 25% tariff, suggesting, “They can crash their faltering economies together.”
While Trump did not specify how much of that tariff is directly tied to Russian oil imports, the same strategy could soon be applied to China as trade talks reach a critical phase.
The European Union — still the largest buyer of Russian gas — may also come under pressure. Hungary, Belgium, France, and Slovakia are among the top importers.
Ironically, after recently agreeing to a 15% tariff reduction in trade deals, some European countries that had previously pushed Trump to punish Russia may now find themselves on the receiving end of U.S. sanctions. But this is the unpredictable and aggressive path Trump has chosen to follow. – (Agencies)
