Russia has proposed a plan for a rail tunnel known as the “Putin-Trump” tunnel, spearheaded by Elon Musk, to establish a connection between Russia and the US as a symbol of unity.
The tunnel, spanning 70 miles under the Bering Strait, is envisioned to facilitate joint exploration of natural resources, as suggested by Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The project, estimated to cost $8 billion, would be financed by Moscow and international partners. The proposal entails engaging The Boring Company, a tunnel construction firm owned by Elon Musk, to complete the project within eight years.
Dmitriev highlighted that a conventional tunnel of this scale would typically cost over $65 billion, but leveraging the technology from Musk’s company could reduce the cost significantly to $8 billion. The idea of the tunnel was introduced following a phone call between Putin and Donald Trump, where they agreed to meet in Budapest for discussions on peace efforts in Ukraine.
Reflecting on the historical context, Dmitriev mentioned the long-standing aspiration of linking the US and Russia through the Bering Strait, citing previous plans such as the 1904 Siberia-Alaska railway and Russia’s 2007 initiative. RDIF has reviewed various proposals, including the US-Canada-Russia-China railroad, to support the most feasible option.
The Bering Strait, with a narrowest point of 51 miles (82 km), separates Russia’s Chukotka region from Alaska. Discussions on connecting these points have been ongoing for over a century, with past proposals never coming to fruition. Dmitriev emphasized the symbolic unity that the Putin-Trump Tunnel would represent, connecting the US and Russia over a 70-mile link.
He also referenced a previous idea from the Cold War era, suggesting the construction of a ‘Kennedy-Khrushchev World Peace Bridge’ and shared a possible route sketch between Chukotka and Alaska.
“RDIF has already made investments in and constructed the first-ever Russia-China railroad bridge. It is now time to take further steps and unite the Continents for the first time in history by connecting Russia and the US,” expressed Dmitriev. Elon Musk has not yet responded to the proposal.
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