Overview

• Speaking to generals and admirals at Quantico, the president said he moved "one or two" submarines toward Russian waters out of caution.
• He said the step followed mentions of nuclear weapons and expressed hope such weapons would not be used.
• He claimed the United States leads Russia and China in submarine capability by about 25 years and said the U.S. fleet includes 71 nuclear submarines.
• He said his administration is discussing building new battleships and rejected the view that such ships are obsolete.
• He previously said in August that he ordered two nuclear submarines to relevant regions after remarks by Dmitry Medvedev, and the Kremlin characterized U.S. submarine patrols as routine combat duty.