TRUMP MOVES NUKE SUBS AFTER RUSSIA SPAT

FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV OFFERS PRESIDENT TRUMP A USEFUL FOIL TO CRITICISE WITHOUT REBUKING PUTIN

- STORY: AGENCIES

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in "the appropriate regions" in response to remarks from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.

Security analysts called Mr Trump's move a rhetorical escalation with Moscow, but not necessarily a military one, given that the United States already has nuclear-powered submarines that are deployed and capable of striking Russia.

Mr Medvedev on Thursday said Mr Trump should remember that Moscow possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort, after Mr Trump had told Mr Medvedev to "watch his words".

"Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev ... I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that," Mr Trump said in Friday's social media post.

He added: "Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances."

Asked later by reporters why he ordered the submarine movement, Mr Trump said: "A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people."

Earlier, in a midnight social media post, Mr Trump called Mr Medvedev a "failed former President of Russia" who had better "watch his words".