But even if

"But even if Mr. Trump has no real intention of using military force, convincing adversaries and allies
that he is willing to make a move that Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all considered too dangerous has significant value."
(NYT.)

Is But even if Mr. Trump has no real intention of using military force a clause of concession?

(In my opinion it is.)

Is convincing a gerundial or progressive ing-form in the cited sentence?

(In my opinion, it is a gerundial one.)