Trump’s Address
At the 2026 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump revived the proposal for U.S. acquisition of Greenland, positioning it as a strategic imperative tied to missile defense and Arctic security, while stopping short of military coercion. The address emphasized nationalist priorities and re-centered U.S. self-interest.
Nigeria’s Unreadiness
Nigeria’s presence at Davos projected intent without resolving underlying readiness. Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated “Nigeria House,” the country’s first sovereign pavilion at the forum, signaling a desire for structured engagement and investor outreach. The move marked a shift from passive attendance to visible participation; however, symbolism outpaced execution. Absent parallel signals on investor protection, regulatory certainty, and domestic capacity, the pavilion underscored a familiar gap between global optics and on-the-ground readiness.
Africa’s Critical Minerals
Across Davos 2026, Africa’s critical minerals emerged as a strategic fulcrum in the energy transition. Copper, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths—inputs essential to electrification, data centers, and defense—were framed less as commodities and more as instruments of geopolitical leverage. The consensus among policymakers and industry leaders was clear: value capture will depend on disciplined governance, integrated value chains, and diversified partnerships. Without these, Africa’s mineral advantage risks reinforcing dependency rather than securing long-term competitiveness in the global economy.