https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...unnel-linking-russia

President Trump confirmed a "very productive" phone call with Russian President Putin on Thursday, according to a post on Truth Social. The two leaders are now expected to meet in the near term in Budapest, Hungary, with discussions centered on potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump's latest threat to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles may have been a key driver prompting Moscow's sudden willingness to engage in talks at the highest level. While full details of the call remain undisclosed, the tone shift signals possible upcoming breakthroughs in negotiations to end the three-year war in Eastern Europe, which has resulted in some casualty figures on both sides at 1.4 million, according to a recent New York Times report, citing U.S. and British government estimates, among other sources.

What comes out of Budapest remains to be seen. But already, Russian sovereign wealth fund head Kirill Dmitriev is posting on X about Elon Musk's Boring Company potentially building a 70-mile undersea rail tunnel linking Russia and Alaska through the Bering Strait - a proposed $65 billion megaproject.

Dmitriev called the potential megaproject the "Putin-Trump Tunnel," pitching it as a symbol of renewed unity after the Trump-Putin phone call this week.

This type of rhetoric from the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund wouldn't be seen on his personal X page unless he saw potential pathways for peace emerging ahead.

Let's begin with Dmitriev's first post on X about the proposed tunnel project that could reshape global supply chains and be completed for $8 billion by Musk's Boring Company within eight years. It's important to note that a megaproject of this scale would likely capture Trump's attention, while neocons and Democrats would be howling in protest if it ever got off the ground.



Dmitrie noted, "From the Soviet JFK docs released by @RepLuna : Kennedy–Khrushchev World Peace Bridge "could and should be built between Alaska and Russia at once," adding, "With modern @boringcompany technology this can become a Putin-Trump tunnel connecting the Eurasia and Americas for < $8 billion."

"Isn't it better to link Africa–Eurasia with the Americas, Russia and the US via an Alaska–Russia tunnel than to increase the risks a WW3?" Dmitrie continued. Well, Dmitrie, do you think America's energy-industrial complex - Trump's friends - would like the very idea of cheap Russian energy being transported to the U.S.? Also, Ukrainian special forces might take an interest - like they did with Nord Stream.

In other words, if a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine materializes, a so-called "peace tunnel" linking the U.S. and Russia could serve as a trade pact that helps promote lasting stability. Otherwise, what's the alternative as both countries, actually the world, gear up for the Arctic, more conflicts and war?

We know one person who is not a fan of the idea:

Trump: “This came up yesterday, a tunnel from Russia to Alaska. That’s interesting. What do you think of that, Mr. President [Zelensky]? Do you have any ideas? How do you like that idea?”

Zelensky: “I’m not happy with this idea.”

Trump can’t help but laugh: “I don’t think he liked it. I don’t think he liked it.”



Certainly an interesting development to track, as it could be one of the most geopolitically transformative infrastructure undertakings of our generation if it ever gets off the ground. Rewiring global supply chains for the 2030s.

If that could be done for anything close to 8B, give permission/support and I think private investors would be very interested.

Politically, it probably needs DC involvement as well, but I’d risk a small amount in it.

TMK, maritime is cheaper, but maybe not with having to go from rail to ship then back to rail.

Tie it to modernizing regulations/taxes on rail, and it would be incredibly transformative.

(Long haul trucking is illogical.)

^^ This!
Only a question of when.

It LOOKS like, to a lawyer/ice cream maker/not a civil engineer - that as long as it doesn’t actually cross a fault, it’s OK.

https://www.asce.org/publicati...-safe-infrastructure

The other question is what kind of road network would it connect to on either side of the strait? AFAIK, you'd be looking at between 500-800 miles of new highway/railroad (which I agree makes more sense than road) to connect that to the existing network on the Alaska side. The Russian side is probably much further, as they have basically no infrastructure in that part of the country. Also, IIRC, Russia's rail system is a different gauge and incompatible with the rest of the world's, so you'd have to transfer the load regardless.

While it would be theoretically possible, you're talking about spending $8B on a literal tunnel to nowhere. The cost to connect and integrate it with existing infrastructure would be much higher.

$8B for that tunnel is a GROSS miscalculation and understatement! Earthquakes, infiltration, fresh air, emergency exits, automotive fires, etc. are just a few quick ones off the top of my head. This would be closer to $800B before it was finished.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

That was EXACTLY my first thought!

I can't see an upside to the USA from this project.

Russia has a large amount of barely tapped natural resources/fairly large, underutilized, reasonably educated workforce.

More importantly, “Russia” isn’t really “Russia.”

I think, with enough investment, development, etc we could get the non-“Russian” parts of the Russian Federation more into our side.

Maybe build a terminal on the Russian side where you can parallel the American train with a Russian one and use a crane to transfer cargo packed in truck trailers from one to the other? That also provides the ability to offload onto trucks and drive it away on Russian roads (assuming there are some that could be used for transport). No merging of incompatible train tracks necessary. Or put the terminal on the Alaska side - either way would work.

Ice. Road. Truckers.

Well maybe for 6 months of the year.

Getting in bed with the russians on a project like this is a bad idea.

More money than sense.

quote:

Originally posted by hberttmank:
Getting in bed with the russians on a project like this is a bad idea.

Amen brother!

Shoot...we've given more than $123 Billion to Ukraine just to fund their stupid war. Where has that got us?

I say build it. At least we would have something to show for our efforts.

This is retarded. Like rubbing your own shit in your hair retarded. There's fuckall in the Russian far east, their rail lines aren't compatible. There seems to be zero upside, except that Zelensky and my dipshit aunt don't like it.

quote:

Originally posted by airsoft guy:
This is retarded. Like rubbing your own shit in your hair retarded. There's fuckall in the Russian far east, their rail lines aren't compatible. There seems to be zero upside, except that Zelensky and my dipshit aunt don't like it.

+1 Nothing good can come from this for the USA.

quote:

Originally posted by hberttmank:

+1 Nothing good can come from this for the USA.

You guys not into Russian vodka or caviar, huh?

Those don't have to come through a tunnel.