Bangladesh, Aug. 7 -- In an incendiary announcement on August 1, US President Donald Trump revealed on social media that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russian territory, allegedly in response to what he called “highly provocative” remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quickly distanced President Vladimir Putin from Medvedevs language.

This development marks a new and dangerous chapter in US-Russia tensions — one that even arch-hawk John Bolton matter-of-factly described as “very risky business”. Suffice to say, when even Bolton sounds the alarm, the risk is real enough.

The situation is all the more volatile due to the...