Russian advisors from the inner circle view Trump's warning as posing no significant risk
The deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russia, as ordered by President Donald Trump, has raised concerns about a potential escalation of tensions between the two countries. According to military expert Yuri Fyodorov, if the submarines take up position off Cyprus, the nuclear missiles could reach central Russia in just 10 minutes, posing a significant threat.
However, not all analysts share this view. Duma deputy Leonid Ivlev stated that this is not a threat to Russia's security, a sentiment echoed by Kremlin-linked politicians and experts in Moscow, with the exception of Fyodorov. The foreign ministry and other Russian leadership bodies have also not reacted demonstratively to the deployment.
The US move is seen as a warning tied to demands for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face severe sanctions. However, analysts warn that such military signaling can backfire, raising the danger of miscalculation or inadvertent conflict given the stealthy and high-stakes nature of nuclear submarines and strategic nuclear weapons.
The exact locations and capabilities of the submarines remain undisclosed, adding to the uncertainty and risks associated with their movement. The Nuclear Threat Initiative has expressed concerns about the escalation risks when nuclear forces are actively deployed in geopolitical disputes.
The potential consequences of this deployment include increased US-Russia tensions, heightened risk of escalation into a military or nuclear confrontation, and damage to diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict peacefully.
Meanwhile, Kremlin-linked political scientist Sergei Markov has criticized Trump for acting "stupidly and irresponsibly." Trump's actions are also perceived as a distraction from internal political problems, including his role in the Jeffrey Epstein sex offender scandal.
Despite this, Russia is aware of the stationing of such US weapons, according to Duma deputy Viktor Vodolazsky. He, along with other analysts, emphasizes the need for an agreement between Moscow and Washington to end all talk of a third world war.
Viktor Vodolazsky also suggests that there is no need to respond to Trump's statements because the US president constantly changes his mind. However, the potential consequences of inaction could be dire, as Fyodorov warns that if the submarines are near Cyprus, even Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin might not have enough time to react before his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo is turned into a nuclear crater.
[1] The Guardian [2] Reuters [3] Nuclear Threat Initiative
- The deployment of nuclear submarines ordered by President Trump, a move as reported by The Guardian, has ignited discussions about the role of politics and general news in the context of war-and-conflicts, as analysts argue about its implications on Russia's security and the Ukraine conflict.
- The potential threat posed by these submarines, according to military expert Yuri Fyodorov, as noted by Reuters, has brought the focus back on nuclear weapons and the stealthy nature of their deployment in geopolitical disputes, a concern shared by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, emphasizing the risks associated with escalation.
