Donald Trump has ordered the repositioning of US nuclear submarines in response to a menacing tweet from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, escalating tensions over Ukraine and reigniting fears of direct confrontation between Washington and Moscow. The move comes amid rising international concern about Trump’s increasingly volatile foreign policy as he campaigns to return to the White House in 2025.
Medvedev’s tweet provokes swift retaliation
The incident began when Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, responded to Trump’s recent threats of new sanctions over Russian aggression in Ukraine. In a widely shared social media post, Medvedev called the threat “a direct step towards war” and warned of “consequences that America has never known.” Sources close to Trump say the former president was infuriated by what he interpreted as a nuclear threat, prompting a late-night order to the Pentagon to reposition at least two ballistic missile submarines to “undisclosed forward positions.”
The military was caught off guard by a politicised directive
The US Navy complied with the directive but privately expressed unease over its strategic implications. Defence officials told Newshub that the order did not follow the usual chain of consultative protocol and risked “misinterpretation” by adversaries. The decision has reportedly alarmed NATO allies, who were not briefed before the redeployments. Some defence analysts argue that the gesture was intended more as a political statement than a military necessity.
Strategic stability under new strain
Military experts warn that such abrupt movements of nuclear assets—particularly during moments of heightened rhetoric—can destabilise long-standing deterrence norms. “These submarines are meant to be silent, survivable deterrents, not political chess pieces,” said a former commander of US Strategic Command. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has not officially commented, but state media has portrayed the American action as provocative.
Ukraine remains a flashpoint in US-Russia tensions
The renewed hostilities follow Trump’s promise to impose “total financial destruction” on Russia if it continues to escalate its war in Ukraine, despite his previous ambivalence over arming Kyiv. Medvedev’s response, paired with Trump’s decision to flex America’s nuclear posture, has unsettled diplomats in Brussels and Berlin, who fear a breakdown in backchannel communication between Washington and Moscow.
Diplomatic fallout and campaign overtones
Critics argue that Trump’s dramatic gestures are designed to project strength during his re-election campaign but may come at the cost of global security. Democratic leaders in Congress have urged the Pentagon to reaffirm its operational independence and resist being drawn into political theatrics. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration, while maintaining a public silence, is reportedly working behind the scenes to reassure allies and de-escalate the situation.
REFH – Newshub, 2 August 2025
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