Russia Proposes ‘Putin–Trump Tunnel’ to Link U.S. and Russia Under Bering Strait
Russia has proposed an ambitious plan to construct a massive undersea rail and transport tunnel connecting Russia and the United States through the Bering Strait a project dubbed the “Putin–Trump Tunnel.”
The idea was presented by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and one of President Vladimir Putin’s top investment envoys, who described the project as a potential “symbol of renewed cooperation” between Moscow and Washington.
According to a report by Reuters, Dmitriev suggested that the tunnel spanning about 112 kilometers (70 miles) between Russia’s Chukotka region and Alaska could be completed within eight years at an estimated cost of $8 billion.
He said new tunneling technologies developed by Elon Musk’s Boring Company could drastically reduce costs compared to earlier projections that placed the price tag as high as $65 billion.
Dmitriev publicly invited Musk to participate in the project, writing on social media: “Let’s build a future together.”
The Kremlin official added that the proposed tunnel could open new opportunities for joint Arctic resource exploration and trade development between the two countries.
The proposal emerged shortly after reports of a phone call between President Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, who are expected to meet in Budapest to discuss global issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
While there has been no official reaction from Musk, The Boring Company, or U.S. authorities, Dmitriev’s announcement has attracted widespread attention for its mix of ambition, symbolism, and controversy.
Analysts say the project faces enormous engineering and geopolitical challenges. The Bering Strait lies in one of the world’s harshest environments, marked by freezing temperatures, seismic activity, and vast logistical hurdles. Moreover, diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington remain deeply strained over the war in Ukraine and international sanctions.
If ever realized, the Putin–Trump Tunnel would be one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in history physically linking Eurasia and North America by land for the first time.
For now, however, experts say the proposal remains a visionary idea rather than a concrete plan.
