MOSCOW (Kashmir English): Russia has proposed an ambitious plan to construct a mammoth undersea tunnel to connect Russia with the United States.
A senior Kremlin official proposed the undersea passage, dubbed the “Putin Trump Tunnel,” to connect Russia and the global superpower beneath the Bering Strait.
The idea of 112-kilometer rail and cargo tunnel linking Russia’s Chukotka region with Alaska, was presented by Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and investment envoy to President Vladimir Putin.
If materialized, this would be a first direct physical connection between the two continents.
According to Dmitriev, new tunneling technologies, including those developed by The Boring Company, could significantly reduce construction costs to around eight billion dollars and cut completion time to less than eight years against earlier cost estimates of more than $65 billion.
Promoting the project on social media, Dmitriev described the tunnel as more than just an engineering venture. He called it a symbol of unity between two global powers.
Was of the view that such a link could strengthen trade, collaboration, and peace between the East and the West.
Trump describes tunnel idea as interesting
Commenting on the proposal, US President Donald Trump described it as interesting, saying he would need to consider it further.
The Kremlin, however, confirmed that initial discussions between Moscow and Washington have taken place.
Experts, however, have expressed skepticism over the project’s feasibility.
The Bering Strait is known for its frequent seismic activity, harsh environment, and lack of supporting infrastructure on both sides.
Questions also remain about the tunnel’s economic viability and political implications amid strained US-Russia ties.
Dmitriev believes that the new tunnel could finally realize the long-imagined dream of a physical link between North America and Eurasia.
