US President Donald Trump has been criticised after he ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group, said: “This is irresponsible and inadvisable.
“No leader or deputy leader should be threatening nuclear war, let alone in a juvenile manner on social media.”
Mr Trump was asked about the decision by reporters outside the White House.
He said: “We had to do that. We just have to be careful.
“A threat was made, and we didn’t think it was appropriate, so I have to be very careful. So I do that on the basis of safety for our people. A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we’re going to protect our people.”
President Trump made the decision after former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused Trump of playing “the ultimatum game with Russia” and warned, “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war.”
Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists criticised Mr Trump, saying this plays into Russia’s hands.
He said: “The subs are always there all the time and don’t need to be moved into position.
“He [Trump] grants Medvedev a response to these crazy statements.”
The spat comes after President Trump set a new deadline – August 8 – for Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no intent to end the war as his forces continue to attack Ukrainian cities.