Washington: Responding to the threat by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev—who invoked the ‘dead hand’— US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be deployed near Russia. Medvedev currently serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
‘Dead Hand’ is a Cold War-era automated nuclear weapons control system, also known as Perimeter, designed to ensure that the Soviet Union (present day Russia) could retaliate against a nuclear attack. The system can automatically launch a retaliatory nuclear strike even if Russia’s leadership were incapacitated.
“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Dead Economies taunt to ‘Dead Hand’ warning
Medvedev’s threat was in response to the US President imposing 25% tariffs on India over its purchase of oil from Russia. Trump had referred to both India and Russia as ‘dead economies.’
“As for the talk about the ‘dead economies’ of India and Russia, and ‘entering dangerous territory’ – maybe he should recall his favourite movies about ‘the walking dead,’ and also remember how dangerous the so-called ‘Dead Hand,’ which doesn’t even exist, could be,” Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.
In his post announcing the tariffs on Indian imports to the US, he had also cautioned Medvedev and Russia. “Tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!” Trump had posted.
Earlier, Medvedev had warned Trump after the US reduced the ceasefire deadline with Ukraine from 50 days to just 10–12 days. Trump had warned of “secondary tariffs” if the deadline was not met.
