EX US Navy official criticizes Trump's public nuclear sub announcement
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US President Donald Trump's social media post about repositioning nuclear submarines, in response to a warning from Dmitry Medvedev, raises concerns over military secrecy and escalating US-Russia tensions, James Stavridis writes in Bloomberg.
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The USS Kentucky, a US nuclear-armed submarine, is anchored at the Busan Naval Base in Busan, South Korea, on July 19, 2023. (Woohae Cho/Pool Photo via AP, File)
US President Donald Trump sparked concerns over military secrecy and global security following a social media post in which he claimed to have ordered two nuclear submarines to reposition "in the appropriate regions." The statement was made in response to a message from Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, who warned that US pressure on Moscow regarding Ukraine was a "threat and a step towards war."
Retired US Navy admiral James Stavridis, writing in an opinion piece for Bloomberg, analyzed the implications of Trump’s post, cautioning that public discussions of nuclear military movements could endanger strategic security and escalate tensions.
The diplomatic tension began on July 28 when Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russian President Vladimir Putin's security council and former Russian president, posted on social media that a US ultimatum for Moscow to negotiate over Ukraine constituted "a threat and a step towards war." Medvedev also referenced Russia's "dead hand" nuclear launch system, which is designed to automatically launch nuclear weapons if the country comes under nuclear attack.
Trump's playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10… He should remember 2 things:
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) July 28, 2025
1. Russia isn't Israel or even Iran.
2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!
Trump responded by announcing he had ordered two nuclear submarines "to be positioned in the appropriate regions." Trump acknowledged the sensitivity of such communications, stating that "words are very important and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances." A Kremlin spokesman later warned against "nuclear rhetoric."
Stavridis warns of escalation from public military rhetoric
James Stavridis, a retired US Navy admiral and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, emphasized the potential risks of publicly discussing the movement of nuclear-armed submarines, noting that such revelations traditionally remain classified.
Writing for Bloomberg, he warned that such rhetoric, especially when conducted through public channels, could heighten tensions and bring the world closer to potential conflict. "Careless words and vague military threats can move the world closer to a disastrous conflict," he stated.
In his analysis, Stavridis highlighted three classes of nuclear-powered submarines operated by the US Navy. The Ohio-class SSBNs are the largest and most heavily armed, each capable of carrying 24 Trident II nuclear missiles with a range exceeding 4,000 miles. These submarines typically remain on continuous patrol under strict secrecy.
He also described the fleet of over 50 attack submarines, including the Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia classes. These versatile submarines are designed for multiple roles such as surveillance, Tomahawk missile launches, and anti-ship operations. Their agility and stealth make them difficult to detect and potent in combat.
Additionally, four Ohio-class submarines have been converted to carry more than 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Stavridis considered these the most likely vessels to have been repositioned, given their relevance to regional conflict scenarios.
Drawing from his experience as an anti-submarine warfare officer, he emphasized the critical importance of secrecy in submarine operations, noting that these warships serve as the US Navy’s most powerful and elusive underwater assets.
Stavridis urges economic pressure over military moves
Despite his criticism of Medvedev's remarks, Stavridis argued that Trump should not have engaged with them publicly. He dismissed Medvedev as not a serious player in Russian politics, stating that the focus should be on directly targeting Russia’s economic vulnerabilities.
He advocated for the use of non-military tools, particularly secondary sanctions on Russian oil clients and the confiscation of frozen Russian funds in Western banks. "As tempting as it is to move nuclear submarines around, the means to bring Putin to the table aren’t America’s killers of the deep," he concluded.
