(MENAFN) According to reports, Russian and American officials have begun initial discussions on a potential mega infrastructure project — a tunnel beneath the Bering Strait that would physically link the two nations.

A senior Russian economic representative announced on social media Friday that “discussions on the tunnel begin,” adding that the initiative could symbolize a new phase of cooperation between Moscow and Washington.

During a meeting at the White House, the U.S. president reportedly described the proposed Bering Strait tunnel as “interesting,” noting its potential to establish a direct railway connection between Russia and the United States.

According to the Russian envoy, a modern construction process could be completed in under eight years, with costs expected to remain below $8 billion — far less than earlier projections of $65 billion — due to advanced tunneling technologies developed by The Boring Company, owned by American entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The official referred to the ambitious venture as the “Putin-Trump Tunnel,” highlighting its promise for stimulating economic growth, generating employment, and enabling shared development of natural resources. He also mentioned that Russia’s investment fund has prior experience in constructing cross-border infrastructure, including a railway bridge linking Russia and China.

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