Tensions between global superpowers have intensified dramatically after US President Donald Trump confirmed the deployment of nuclear submarines closer to Russia — prompting a swift military response from Moscow and Beijing.
Submarines on the Move
Speaking on Truth Social and later in a Newsmax interview, President Trump said he ordered two US Navy nuclear submarines into "appropriate regions" near Russian waters in response to what he called "highly provocative statements" from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s National Security Council.
"A threat was made… so we have to be very careful. We're going to protect our people. He's entering very dangerous territory!" Trump said, adding, “Words are very important and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
While the exact location of the subs remains undisclosed, military analysts suggest they are likely Ohio-class submarines, each armed with up to 20 Trident II D5 missiles capable of delivering multiple thermonuclear warheads with a range of 7,000 miles, the Daily Mail reports.
Retired US Marine Colonel Mark Cancian described the move as “signalling in its purest form.”
Russia and China Launch Joint Military Drills
In what appears to be a direct show of defiance, Russia and China launched large-scale naval war games in the Sea of Japan, a day after Trump’s announcement.
China’s Defence Ministry confirmed the start of the "Joint Sea-2025" exercises near Vladivostok, involving four Chinese warships, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, The Moscow Times reports. The three-day operation will feature submarine rescue missions, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, anti-missile drills, and maritime combat simulations.
Despite being pre-planned, the exercises come at a time of acute geopolitical tension and are widely interpreted as a message to the United States. Russia and China have held joint drills for over two decades, but their frequency and scale have intensified since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Chinese Defence Ministry denied the exercises were targeting any third nation, but Japan expressed serious concerns, citing the "strong threat" such cooperation poses to regional stability.
Medvedev’s 'Dead Hand' Threat
The escalating rhetoric began when Medvedev posted a chilling message on Telegram, hinting at the reactivation of Russia’s doomsday nuclear protocol known as “Dead Hand,” capable of automatically launching a retaliatory nuclear strike even if Russian leadership is destroyed.
"Maybe he [Trump] should recall his favourite movies about ‘the walking dead’ and remember how dangerous the so-called ‘Dead Hand’ could be," Medvedev wrote. He warned that each new US ultimatum was “a step towards war... not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.”
Trump responded swiftly, calling the statement a threat and ordering the submarine movement. “I want to make sure his words are only words and nothing more than that,” he said Friday.
Trump’s Ultimatum to Putin
The dramatic escalation follows Trump’s warning that he will impose "devastating" sanctions if Vladimir Putin does not declare a ceasefire in Ukraine by August 8. Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, is reportedly running out of patience.
"Trump is running out of patience with Russia," a source close to the President told the Mail on Sunday. "He promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office and clearly that has not happened."
Trump's administration has also dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff to the region in an attempt to jumpstart negotiations.
Rising Casualties in Ukraine
The sabre-rattling comes after one of the deadliest Russian airstrikes this year, with 31 civilians, including five children, killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Kyiv. Days later, Russian drones struck markets and residential areas in the Donetsk and Kherson regions, sparking fires and civilian evacuations.
Trump condemned the attacks as "disgusting" and reiterated his call for immediate peace negotiations.
Putin's Response: ‘Stable Peace’ — On Russia’s Terms
While Putin has publicly called for a “lasting and stable peace,” he has given no indication of compromise. Talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul recently collapsed within an hour, yielding no agreement beyond prisoner exchanges.
Putin, when asked about Trump’s pressure tactics, responded vaguely: “As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations.”
Russian lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky downplayed the submarine deployments, claiming that the US subs had already been tracked and were under control. “The number of Russian nuclear submarines in the world's oceans is significantly higher than the American ones,” he added.
Medvedev’s Late-Night Rants Raise Eyebrows
Medvedev, increasingly known for his erratic online behavior, has been criticized even within Russia. Oligarch and Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, now exiled in London, dismissed his apocalyptic messaging: “It’s the rambling of a man drowning his terror in vodka.”
Despite this, Medvedev’s influence remains significant, particularly as tensions within Russia’s ruling elite continue to surface amid prolonged warfare.
As the August 8 deadline looms, the geopolitical balance hangs in the air. The White House, Pentagon, and Downing Street have all declined to comment on the situation to the press, fueling further uncertainty.
What’s clear is that both rhetoric and military posturing are escalating at an uncomfortable pace. With nuclear-capable submarines at sea, joint Chinese-Russian military drills underway, and diplomatic negotiations faltering, the risk of miscalculation may be higher now than at any time since the Cold War.