U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of imposing trade tariffs on European countries is a maximalist move designed to force concessions on Greenland, according to geopolitical analyst Ana Evans.
Speaking to AnewZ from Lisbon, Portugal, Evans said the tariff threat represents a negotiating posture meant to extract strategic concessions from Europe on Greenland, rather than a settlement in itself.
“It’s a maximalist start of negotiations to then come back and reach a consensus that is very favourable to the U.S.,” she noted.
Evans’ comments come amid heightened tensions over Greenland, following Trump’s ultimatum of a 10 % tariff on imports from eight European countries, if a deal to purchase Greenland is not reached. The proposed tariff would start on 1 February 2026, and rise to 25 % by 1 June, if the matter is not resolved
The tariff threat, Evans noted, underscores Washington’s view of the island as critical for national security and Arctic influence, including missile defence and strategic positioning.
However, Europe has strongly rejected U.S. pressure.
EU leaders warned that punitive duties would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral, while France and Germany emphasised that Europe “will not be blackmailed,” signalling readiness to consider retaliatory measures.
Evans said these developments demonstrate the high stakes of the dispute.
Davos Forum prospects
“The great hope at this point is precisely that the World Economic Forum will be a really important mechanism to make political leaders interact at the same time,” Ana Evans said, referring to the Davos forum.
The 2026 forum is taking place from 19 to 23 January, providing a platform for informal diplomacy, negotiations, and the exchange of policy ideas, including discussions on trade tensions and Arctic security.
“It allows leaders from the U.S., Europe, and Greenland to explore alternatives and prevent a full-scale trade war,” Evans added.
Importance of Greenland
Greenland’s geopolitical importance stems from its location in the Arctic which warrants control of the GIUK Gap - a strategic maritime corridor named as an initialism for Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.
It refers to the two stretches of open ocean separating these landmasses, forming a key passageway for naval and air forces, and is considered a critical choke point for monitoring and controlling movement in the North Atlantic.
Greenland is also home to the U.S.-owned Pituffik Space Base, vital for missile warning and northern defence.
It also contains rich deposits of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, essential for technology, renewable energy, and defence applications.
Pathways to resolution
Evans noted that multiple negotiation pathways remain, including technological cooperation, agreements on resource extraction, and production and excavation rights.
“There are technological agreements that could be possible, agreements on extracting the critical raw materials and owning extraction rights and production rights,” she said.
She also highlighted that expanded U.S. military presence in Greenland could be part of the outcome.
“The intensification of American presence through renewed American bases in Greenland is also possible,” the geopolitical analyst said, referencing the island’s historical Cold War-era military footprint.
Analysts agree the convergence of global leaders at Davos, including U.S. and European officials, makes the forum a crucial moment to ease tensions, discuss alternative arrangements, and avoid escalation into trade conflict.
“All these technological, economic, financial and land rights and excavation rights are possible,” Evans said, describing the high-level dialogues at the forum as “a very hopeful sign” for de-escalation.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuw...
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as relianc...
The Aviators of Ganja explores how young Spanish volunteers travelled to Soviet-era Azerbaijan to train as military pilots before being drawn into the...
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as reliance on hydrocarbons declines, the World Bank has said.
The South Caucasus is increasingly being viewed not only through the lens of past conflicts but also as a strategic bridge linking Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia. One analyst says this presents an opportunity for a new Euro-Atlantic approach focused on long-term regional cooperation.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), allowing Russian athletes to compete in many international events, including qualifying competitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifted each NATO leader a revolver engraved with their name, along with ammunition at the alliance’s summit in Ankara.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
Western Europe experienced its hottest June since records began in 2026, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The record-breaking month brought extreme heat, widespread disruption and thousands of excess deaths across parts of the continent.
South Korea's Supreme Court has upheld former President Yoon Suk Yeol's seven-year prison sentence in a case linked to his 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
Germany has reached an agreement with the U.S. to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles and deploy them on German territory, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers in Berlin on Thursday.
Australia and India have finalised an agreement allowing Australian uranium exports for India's nuclear energy sector, expanding cooperation on clean energy, critical minerals and infrastructure as the two countries strengthen their strategic and economic partnership.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment