The 2 Ohio Class Submarines With Nuclear Armed Ballistic Missiles in the US Navy Fleet Most Likely to Be Repositioned by Donald Trump to Deter Russia

The 2 Ohio Class Submarines With Nuclear Armed Ballistic Missiles in the US Navy Fleet Most Likely to Be Repositioned by Donald Trump to Deter Russia (PACOM)

TIMEMOMENTS.COM- United States (US) President Donald Trump, who frequently engages in heated debates on social media, was finally enraged by the Russian President's statement, prompting him to issue an order to redeploy two US Navy nuclear submarines.

The order to redeploy two US nuclear submarines was issued by Donald Trump after a heated argument with Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow's military leader and former Russian president.

Al Jazeera's August 2, 2025 edition reported that the day before, on Thursday (July 31, 2025), Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Russia stating that if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire by next Friday, August 8, he would impose a package of economic sanctions.

Refusing to be ordered by the US, Dmitry Medvedev posted on social media, calling Trump's threat "a step towards war."

Medvedev wrote that Trump was playing the ultimatum game with Russia.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump responded: "Words matter, and they can often lead to unintended consequences.

I hope this is not one of those examples."

An enraged Trump then announced the repositioning of two US nuclear submarines to deter Russia.

On Friday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had ordered two US nuclear submarines to be repositioned in the appropriate area.

Trump cited what he considered threatening comments made by former Russian President Medvedev, who now serves as Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council.

Trump called Medvedev's remarks highly provocative and added that his actions were precautionary.

"I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be placed in the appropriate area, just in case this stupid and provocative statement goes beyond that," Trump wrote.

Trump's statement immediately drew attention, especially given that the US and Russia control nearly 87 percent of the world's total nuclear arsenals.

These two geopolitical rivals control approximately 83 percent of the nuclear warheads that are actually deployed or operationally ready for use.

Despite significant reductions since the Cold War, global nuclear arsenals remain at "very high levels," according to a report by the Federation of American Scientists.

As of January 2025, it is estimated that only nine countries possess a total of approximately 12,241 nuclear warheads.

According to the nonprofit Arms Control Association, the US currently deploys 1,419 and Russia deploys 1,549 strategic warheads on several hundred bombers and missiles.

The US conducted its first nuclear test in July 1945; the following month, it dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Four years later, the Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test.

As of 2025, the US Navy operates 71 submarines, all nuclear-powered, making it the largest undersea force.

This fleet includes 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), four Ohio-class guided missile submarines (SSGNs) modified and equipped with Tomahawk missiles for attack or special operations, and approximately 53 fast-attack submarines designed for intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, and cruise missile support.

By comparison, the Russian Navy has fewer than 30 nuclear-powered submarines, including about 10 strategic SSBNs, a mix of modern Borei and older Delta IV-class submarines, which carry Bulava missiles.

Russia also operates several strategic missile cruisers and about six Akula-class attack submarines equipped for anti-ship and multi-role missions.

Russia is investing in expanding its modern fleet through the Yasen-M class.

While Trump's tweet caused a stir, Reuters reported on August 2, 2025, that US officials had told Reuters before Trump's latest statement that Medvedev's comments were not considered a serious threat, and it was unclear what prompted Trump's latest announcement other than the public spat between the two on social media.

Trump and Medvedev have been trading barbs in recent days after Trump said on Tuesday that Russia had "10 days from today" to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face tariffs.

Trump, who has previously touted his good relationship with Putin, has expressed growing frustration with the Russian leader, accusing him of "bullshit" and describing Russia's recent attack on Ukraine as disgusting.

Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists said Trump is creating a commitment trap by fueling expectations that he could use nuclear weapons if tensions with Russia escalate.

Kristensen noted that US nuclear submarines – part of the so-called nuclear triad with land-based bombers and missiles – are always positioned to launch nuclear-armed missiles to targets in Russia.

"The submarines are there at all times and don't need to be moved into position," he said.

"He's giving Medvedev an answer to these crazy statements."

The United States has a total of 14 Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines, each capable of carrying up to 24 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles capable of launching multiple thermonuclear warheads up to 4,600 miles.

According to the arms control group Nuclear Threat Initiative, between 8 and 10 Ohio-class submarines are deployed at any one time.

The August 2, 2025, issue of the National Security Journal suggested that Ohio-class submarines are the most likely fleet that Donald Trump could order to deter Russia.

"Although President Trump did not specify the type of submarine the US Navy is moving, it is most likely two Ohio-class submarines.

Although this class comes in two versions, the version most likely to be deployed to deter Russia is the one armed with long-range, nuclear-armed ballistic missiles," the English-language website wrote.

***