Connect with us

Diplomacy

Experts say Bering Strait Tunnel could launch a new era of US-Russia cooperation

Published

on

International experts, academics, and project consultants discussed the Bering Strait Tunnel project at a roundtable organized by EIR News Service. Speakers emphasized that the project is not merely an infrastructure initiative linking continents but also a historic opportunity to promote global peace and development by fostering cooperation between the United States and Russia. They noted that the project could be a “game-changer” capable of moving the world out of its current, dangerously conflict-prone state.

International experts emphasized that the Bering Strait Tunnel project is not just an infrastructure initiative but also holds the potential to usher in a new era of global peace and development.

German, American, Russian, and Italian speakers, who convened at an online roundtable organized by EIR News Service, stated that the project could create a new paradigm in international relations by connecting the Eurasian and American continents.

Opening the meeting, EIR editor Jason Ross said the Bering Strait Tunnel could serve as “not just a bridge between continents, but a moral bridge to a better paradigm of international relations.”

This project is the answer to the question of war or peace

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Founder and President of the Schiller Institute, which organized the meeting, drew attention to the fundamental importance of the Bering Strait Tunnel.

Stating that the project carries more than just economic investment potential, Zepp-LaRouche said, “The realization of the Bering Strait Tunnel is potentially, and very likely, the answer to whether there will be war or peace.”

Zepp-LaRouche emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement between the world’s two largest nuclear powers that would replace conflict with cooperation, continuing:

“This cooperation is not only for the benefit of these two countries but for all countries in the world. This could be a game-changer, marking a break and a difference from the current, extremely dangerous moment in history.”

Zepp-LaRouche recalled that her late husband, Lyndon LaRouche, began supporting this project as early as 1978.

Expressing that the project formed the key link in the idea they later concretized in the report The New Silk Road Becomes the World Land-Bridge, Zepp-LaRouche said, “This idea is the opening up of all the continents of the planet through the continuous advancement of infrastructure development, and eventually connecting the entire world with a system of tunnels and bridges.”

Zepp-LaRouche noted that with the realization of this vision, a person starting from the southern tip of Argentina by high-speed train could travel uninterrupted to Alaska, from there through the tunnel to Siberia, and finally to the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. She stated that the project is not just a transportation line but a “development corridor.”

“Four thousand kilometers of high-speed rail will be built on the Russian side, and two thousand kilometers on the Canadian and Alaskan side. But this will be just one artery in the corridor. The corridor will also include highways, energy production and distribution, and communications,” she said.

Through this, Zepp-LaRouche added, vast areas in North America and Russia’s Far East, which currently have largely permafrost conditions, will be developed with infrastructure, and the productivity of these regions could reach the level of global industrial centers.

Addressing the project’s cost, Zepp-LaRouche stated, “Some experts indicate the project will pay for itself in about 15 years. Elon Musk said the tunnel could be built in eight years for $8 billion. But the potential for economic productivity and prosperity that the project will unleash is enormous.”

Zepp-LaRouche recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin invited other countries to invest in this project at the Vladivostok Economic Forum, adding that the project also has a peace-building dimension.

Spencer: The Panama Canal of the 21st century

Meanwhile, Scott Spencer, Chief Project Advisor for the InterContinental Railway, described the project as a significant “turning point” in history. “All great projects have more than one turning point in their history, and we are at exactly such a point right now,” Spencer said.

Stating that the cost of the war between Ukraine and Russia far exceeds the cost of this project and provides no benefit to the world, Spencer said, “The Intercontinental Railway is an important part of achieving peace.”

Spencer noted that the project is something US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could agree on, and he reported that the Russian news agency TASS had contacted him twice in recent days to discuss the project’s potential to rebuild US-Russia relations.

Spencer expressed that despite the project’s complexity, there are only two fundamental questions:

“Who will take the leadership to build this project? And when it is built, why will people say they didn’t do it sooner?”

Summarizing the project’s benefits, Spencer said the tunnel under the Bering Strait would be about 100 kilometers long and that advanced tunneling technology could reduce the cost and time. He stated that the project is not just about the tunnel but encompasses a broader network that will connect Alaska to the other US states via Canada.

“We call this project ‘the Panama Canal of the 21st century’ because it will be as impactful and game-changing as the Panama Canal was in the 20th century,” Spencer said.

He expressed that they expect the project to initially carry about 100 million gross ton-miles of freight per year, in addition to creating extra traffic related to access to resources in Russia and Alaska.

Noting that although the project’s cost is estimated to be around $100 billion, even if it were $200 billion, this is not a significant figure considering its 150-200 year lifespan, Spencer emphasized the need for an “Intercontinental Railway Agreement” based on mutual benefit among the US, Canada, Russia, and China for the project to proceed.

Razbegin: The project is technically feasible

Dr. Viktor Razbegin, President of the Interhemispheric Bering Strait Tunnel & Railroad Group in Russia, also shared technical details about the project’s modern outlook and future potential.

Razbegin stated that the shortest distance between Alaska and Russia is 85 kilometers, but the tunnel route would be between 95 and 113 kilometers due to the presence of two small islands.

Razbegin said the existence of these islands is an advantage for the tunnel’s construction, assessing, “This way, we will cross the Bering Strait not in one piece, but in three parts, each no longer than the Channel Tunnel.”

Expressing that the project is a main line connecting not just two countries but the Eurasian and North American continents and will involve many countries, Razbegin said, “This will create an absolute revolution in logistics. Delivery times to the interior regions of the continents will be reduced from today’s 30 days to 10 to 15 days.”

Razbegin stated that about 4,000 kilometers of railway need to be built on the Russian side and about 2,000 kilometers to connect Alaska to the North American rail network for the construction of this main line. He said that thanks to technical and economic studies conducted over the last 30 years, they know how to realize the project.

“In Russia, we have organized an extensive program including engineering geology and technical research. We know the approximate cost of the project, and in fact, we have already started this project,” Razbegin said.

Stating that the engineering geology conditions for the tunnel are quite favorable for this type of construction and they do not expect major difficulties, Razbegin emphasized that the project could become profitable in 10 to 15 years with its commercial transportation benefits alone.

“But perhaps the greater benefit will come from the development of vast territories with enormous mineral resources in Russia, Canada, and Alaska. But perhaps most importantly, I completely agree with Helga Zepp-LaRouche that this project will be the embodiment of the idea of peace through development, peace through cooperation,” Razbegin concluded.

Investment signal from Russia: $8 billion, 8 years

Additionally, Azer Mahamedov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), stated that they appreciate the expert discussions on the project and are positive about its prospects.

“We believe the project itself is very important because it will provide significant potential not only for countries but also for the economic development of continents,” Mahamedov said.

Expressing that the project cost could be significantly reduced thanks to modern technologies, Mahamedov said, “We estimate the project cost at about 7 to 8 billion American dollars and the project duration at about eight years. We have been studying the project with the expert community for some time and will continue to do so.”

Siviero: Bridges unite hearts

Professor Enzo Siviero, a construction and transportation expert from Italy, added a philosophical and humanistic dimension to the project. “I define the tunnel as an underwater bridge because the term bridge also means to connect. This connects not only lands but also people, cultures, and emotional things like the heart,” Siviero said.

Stating that the connection between Russia and the US is vital for world peace, Siviero said, “It is necessary to build this huge project. It was necessary a few decades ago, but now it is more necessary than ever.”

Recalling that he himself had proposed a bridge-tunnel connection between Sicily and Tunisia decades ago, Siviero said that connecting continents is the key to the future.

Siviero noted that building a bridge in the Bering Strait is almost impossible due to weather conditions, making the tunnel the only option, and he emphasized the great importance of the two small islands on the route for safety.

“Infrastructures like this can also change people’s mentality. This is very important. Dialogue is the first step to peace. And in my opinion, the word peace is equivalent to a bridge, whether it is a tunnel or another structure. When we build, there is peace; when we destroy, there is war,” he added.

Bobrov: Diplomacy is undergoing a serious stress test

Dr. Aleksandr Bobrov from the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia focused on the political and diplomatic dimensions of the project.

“This project not only creates a brand-new project that will bring the US and Russia together, but it is also a symbol of cooperation,” Bobrov said.

Stating that the project, much like diplomacy, brings together nations with different backgrounds and views, Bobrov recalled that the idea first emerged during the Kennedy-Khrushchev era, after the Caribbean Crisis when the world was on the brink of nuclear war.

However, Bobrov noted that there are some obstacles to the project, particularly that the European Union and some NATO countries have undermined diplomatic efforts between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. “Unfortunately, diplomacy should not work like this,” Bobrov said.

Bobrov stated that opposition within the Republican Party in the US and the current policies of the Democratic Party have reduced bilateral trade to almost zero, and the project must be launched in a “completely frozen economic environment.”

Emphasizing that this project has the potential to create a new environment in areas such as arms control, counter-terrorism, and cooperation in space, Bobrov added, “If there is a will, there is a way. Thanks to this project, I believe we are closer to a better future for our bilateral relations.”

Discussion on nuclear war risk and diplomatic solutions

In the discussion section, the question of how the project could eliminate the risk of nuclear war was raised. Scott Spencer stated that the risk of nuclear war cannot be ignored, saying, “This project can provide a very strong foundation for working together towards a future where we will reduce or eliminate nuclear weapons.”

Spencer said that with the integration of artificial intelligence into military command and control systems, nuclear weapons cannot coexist, calling it a “clear and present danger.”

Dr. Viktor Razbegin reiterated a simple idea:

“The only alternative to war is a great project. When different nations work together to create something truly great, the vector can shift from conflict to cooperation.”

Dr. Aleksandr Bobrov also stated that diplomacy is “undergoing a very serious stress test,” emphasizing that the only way out is diplomacy, just as it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis 63 years ago.

Financing and obstacles in Canada

The meeting also addressed topics such as the views of indigenous peoples in Alaska and Siberia on the project, financing models, and Canada’s role.

Scott Spencer mentioned that they have spoken with indigenous corporations in Alaska and that they want to be involved in the decision-making processes.

Canadian railway engineer Peter Schultz said that political institutions in Canada are not keen on the project, but some provinces think differently from the federal government and are actively negotiating with American officials.

Concluding the meeting, Helga Zepp-LaRouche stated that the idea that artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons cannot coexist is a “very frightening thought” and stressed the absolute urgency of a change in direction.

“The Bering Strait is an extremely important step for humanity to overcome geopolitics, to become one humanity, and to understand that we are all sitting in the same boat,” she concluded.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Diplomacy

India’s Russian oil imports hit record high as Middle East tensions disrupt markets

Published

15 hours ago

on

23/06/2026

By

India is increasing imports of Russian oil and coal as supply chain disruptions and rising prices linked to tensions involving Iran reshape global energy flows.

According to a Reuters report citing data from analytics firm Kpler, shipments from Russia to India reached record levels in June.

Kpler estimates that Russian oil deliveries to India will rise to a record 2.55 million barrels per day in June.

That would surpass both the 2.13 million barrels per day recorded in May and the previous high of 2.16 million barrels per day registered in May 2023.

Russia’s share of India’s total oil imports in June is expected to come in at just under 50%. Before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, the figure averaged 23% during the three months preceding February 28.

India’s shift toward Russian crude followed the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and a temporary suspension of sanctions on purchases by the administration of US President Donald Trump in an effort to increase market supply.

However, the sanctions waiver expired on June 17 and was not extended by the US Treasury Department.

Reuters noted that this could lead to a decline in purchases of Russian crude, although the outcome will depend on the willingness of Indian refiners and government officials to return to sourcing shipments from Middle Eastern suppliers.

According to Kpler forecasts, imports from Saudi Arabia are expected to remain at 349,000 barrels per day in June. That compares with an average of 832,000 barrels per day during the three months before the conflict.

A similar trend is visible in coal imports. Imports of Russian coal across all grades are expected to reach 3.16 million tonnes in June, compared with 3.27 million tonnes in May.

Both figures would rank as the second and third highest on record, respectively, behind the peak of 3.76 million tonnes registered in May last year.

Russia is also expected to overtake Australia in June to become the second-largest supplier of coal to India, the world’s second-largest coal importer after China.

According to Reuters, Russia is likely to maintain its role as one of India’s key coal suppliers. Future purchases of Russian oil, however, will depend on whether Washington moves to tighten sanctions against Moscow.

New Delhi says oil shipments will not be affected by sanctions

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in mid-June that the country had increased purchases of Russian oil since 2022 at Washington’s request in order to help contain global energy prices.

Jaishankar criticised US restrictions on Russian commodities and urged policymakers not to present such measures as matters of grand principle.

Sujata Sharma, a representative of India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, also said in May that shipments from Russia were continuing and would do so regardless of US decisions concerning sanctions waivers.

Indian refiners reduced imports from Russia in 2025 and turned to suppliers in Saudi Arabia and Iraq amid pressure from the United States and threats of a 25% tariff on Indian goods.

However, Reuters data show that following the outbreak of war in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Indian companies began increasing purchases of Russian crude again in early March.

Russia’s ambassador to New Delhi, Denis Alipov, said at the end of April that Moscow was prepared to supply as much raw material as India was willing to accept.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later confirmed that Moscow remained committed to its agreements on energy shipments to India.

Continue Reading

Diplomacy

EU, US and China intensify competition over Africa’s strategic minerals through Lobito Corridor

Published

16 hours ago

on

23/06/2026

By

Africa is becoming an increasingly intense arena of competition among China, the US and the European Union over access to strategic raw materials.

According to an analysis by German Foreign Policy, the Lobito Corridor, a rail link connecting the copper belt of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola, is playing a pivotal role in that contest.

The infrastructure project is regarded as one of the flagship initiatives of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and is also viewed by Washington, which is investing in the region, as a means of reducing dependence on China.

In the future, copper, cobalt, lithium and other raw materials essential for the production of batteries, electric vehicles, digital technologies and military equipment will be transported westward via this route.

The initiative builds on infrastructure originally constructed during the colonial era to facilitate the export of African raw materials.

Critics argue that the expansion of the Lobito Corridor perpetuates existing patterns of resource extraction under new conditions.

Global Gateway as a counter to the Belt and Road

The European Commission approved the Global Gateway programme in September 2021.

Under the programme, nearly €300 billion is to be invested in infrastructure projects across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Southeast Europe, and South and Central America by 2027.

The programme is widely viewed as a response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

One of its central objectives is to diversify Europe’s imports of critical raw materials, particularly by reducing dependence on supplies from China.

During a visit to China in late May 2026, German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche of the CDU underscored the importance of secure access to critical raw materials and rare earth elements. This is the area in which Germany remains most dependent on China.

Colonial-era infrastructure remains intact

One of the clearest examples is the 1,300-kilometre Lobito Corridor, which runs from the edge of the Zambia-Southern Congo copper belt to the port of Lobito in Angola.

The core infrastructure of this trade corridor was established through the Benguela Railway, which was built as early as 1902 at the height of European colonial expansion. The railway extended eastward from the port city of Lobito through what is now Angola, providing access to the mineral-rich regions of southern Congo and Zambia.

In 1931, following completion of the initial railway line, the British mining and railway company Tanganyika Concessions transferred its 99-year concession rights to Portugal’s colony of Angola.

The concession expired in 2001, after which the infrastructure, previously controlled by Portuguese authorities, was transferred to the Angolan government.

By 2030, annual copper shipments through the route are expected to reach one million metric tonnes.

Both the EU and the US are relying heavily on the Lobito Corridor in an effort to counter China’s dominant position in Africa’s raw materials sector.

Estimates indicate that roughly two-thirds of global cobalt production originates in the Congo, where Chinese companies are particularly active in mining operations.

China also accounts for approximately 75% of global cobalt processing capacity.

The colonial-era rail line leading to Lobito is intended to redirect exports of copper, cobalt and other raw materials, which have until now largely been shipped eastward via Tanzania, toward western markets, enabling processing in Europe or North America rather than China.

Europe seeks to reduce dependence on China for the green transition

In addition to copper and cobalt, the region holds substantial deposits of lithium, coltan, nickel and rare earth elements, giving it significant economic importance.

These materials are used in electric vehicle batteries, stationary energy storage systems and alloys required for military aircraft production.

Until now, the EU has sourced much of these materials from China. Strategic investment in a new logistics hub in Luau, Angola, located along the Lobito Corridor, is intended to reduce that dependence.

The railway line along the corridor is already operated by a European consortium.

The consortium includes Swiss commodities trader Trafigura, Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil and Belgian rail company Vecturis.

However, the majority of the mines remain under Chinese control. In the Congo, 24 of the country’s 33 cobalt-exporting companies are Chinese-backed.

The Lobito Corridor is being developed through an EU-US partnership

EU efforts to secure influence over the Lobito Corridor are advancing in parallel with similar initiatives by the United States.

In early 2022, the US signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU and other G7 members to mobilise more than $600 billion for infrastructure projects worldwide over the following five years as part of the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).

The Lobito Corridor is one of five key trade, transit and development corridors in Southern Africa designed to improve transport efficiency.

During the administration of President Joe Biden, financing for the Lobito Corridor was launched under the G7’s PGII framework as a flagship project in cooperation with the Global Gateway initiative.

The EU also regards the expansion of the Lobito Corridor as a critical project and has committed more than €2 billion in funding.

That support could increase further. The next EU budget cycle beginning in 2028 envisages nearly doubling spending on development and external assistance, from €108 billion to €200 billion.

EU officials present the strategy as an effort to offer a more comprehensive approach to infrastructure financing than China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

‘America First’ in Africa

The US has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars for the expansion of the Lobito Corridor.

In the final quarter of 2025 alone, it provided $553 million in loans for the project’s expansion.

An additional $200 million in support came from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

Unlike the Biden administration, which frequently described the initiative as development assistance, the second Trump administration openly characterises the project as an effort to weaken China’s influence, strengthen US control over critical raw materials and diversify supply chains.

For example, Frank Garcia, a former naval officer appointed in late May as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, praised the Trump administration’s continuing engagement on the continent.

Highlighting the Lobito Corridor in particular, Garcia said the project aligns key US interests in Africa with the “America First” approach.

Germany in Africa for the energy transition

Last autumn, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier travelled several kilometres on the newly restored railway line along the Lobito Corridor and described it as “a strategic infrastructure project of enormous economic importance.”

The German politician added: “Of course, this infrastructure connection also creates investment opportunities for European and German companies along its route.”

Portuguese construction company MCA is currently building solar energy parks in 60 municipalities across Angola at a cost of just under €1.29 billion.

The client is Angola’s Energy Ministry, while the German government is supporting the project through export credit guarantees.

Should Angola fail to meet its payment obligations, Germany would step in. A total of 95% of the project value is guaranteed by the Federal Republic of Germany.

In return, Angola agreed to allow German companies to participate in the project. For example, the battery storage system is being supplied by SMA Solar Technology, based in Niestetal near Kassel.

German solar technology provider Gantner Instruments Environment Solutions is supplying the digital control system.

Critics of the Lobito Corridor expansion warn that the project will primarily benefit the EU and the US.

In their view, the initiative promotes the export of African raw materials rather than strengthening intra-African trade.

Although the EU presents these measures as a development project aligned with African interests, critics argue that they ultimately represent a continuation of Western exploitation of African resources.

Continue Reading

Diplomacy

EU presses Türkiye for non-Russian gas supplies under future energy contracts

Published

2 days ago

on

22/06/2026

By

The European Union is insisting that natural gas delivered to member states via Türkiye under new supply agreements must not be of Russian origin.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said after an official visit to Ankara that “Türkiye understands that the EU attaches great importance to ending the supply of raw materials originating from Russia and accepts this reality.”

Reiche added that Turkish officials had made it clear that replacing supplies from Russia could not be achieved overnight, either economically or in terms of available alternative sources.

As of June 17, a ban on pipeline natural gas imports from Russia under short-term contracts signed more than a year ago entered into force across the European Union.

The measure was approved by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament at the end of last year. In January 2025, EU member states also voted to phase out Russian gas completely by 2027. Under that decision, member states are required to verify the origin of gas supplies before authorizing deliveries.

Meanwhile, Swiss-based company Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, has launched legal action challenging the regulation imposing the ban on Russian gas imports.

Türkiye, for its part, is continuing negotiations with Gazprom on natural gas supplies for the period after 2026, as existing contracts are approaching expiration.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar previously said the parties had yet to reach agreement on potential shipment volumes and the duration of any new contracts.

In December 2025, Ankara extended by one year two agreements with Gazprom covering gas deliveries through the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines.

Türkiye is seeking to reduce Russia’s share of its gas supply mix. Russia’s share of Türkiye’s natural gas imports has already fallen below 40%.

As part of its energy diversification strategy, Ankara plans to replace part of Russian gas imports with supplies from the United States and Central Asia.

Bayraktar previously said that despite US calls to abandon Russian energy resources, Türkiye would continue purchasing natural gas from Russia.

“We cannot tell our citizens there is no gas available. We have agreements with Russia. Winter is approaching. We need gas from Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan,” Bayraktar said.

Continue Reading

MOST READ

Turkey