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Earlier today, a self-styled Alliance of the Determined, predominantly composed of EU officials, convened in Paris with envoys of the Trump administration, attempting to make further advances on a durable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to conclude the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", no-one in that gathering wished to risk maintaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an enormous unspoken issue in that opulent and sparkling summit, and the fundamental mood was profoundly strained.

Recall the developments of the recent days: the White House's divisive intervention in the South American nation and the President Trump's insistence soon after, that "we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an autonomous possession of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was seated facing two powerful individuals representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU counterparts to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, in case that affects US support for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have much rather to separate Greenland and the debate on the war distinct. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from the White House and Copenhagen, representatives of big European nations at the gathering issued a communiqué asserting: "The island is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be secured collectively, in cooperation with NATO allies such as the America".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to rule on affairs concerning Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué added.

The communique was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was slow to be put together and, owing to the small set of supporters to the declaration, it failed to show a European Union aligned in purpose.

"Had there been a joint statement from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in backing of Danish control, that would have sent a powerful warning to Washington," noted a European foreign policy specialist.

Ponder the contradiction at hand at the France meeting. Multiple EU government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to involve the White House in protecting the future sovereignty of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), immediately after the US has swooped into independent Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also persistently actively challenging the territorial integrity of a further European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, profoundly key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, were Trump to act upon his desire to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a significant crisis for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has spoken of his intention to dominate the Arctic island. He's proposed purchasing it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

He insisted that the landmass is "crucially located right now, it is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the vantage point of defense and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Denmark refutes that last statement. It recently pledged to invest $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US maintains a military base currently on the island – established at the beginning of the Cold War. It has reduced the number of troops there from approximately 10,000 during peak the confrontation to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of overlooking Arctic Security, recently.

Copenhagen has indicated it is willing to talk about a bigger US footprint on the territory and further cooperation but faced with the US President's assertion of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders across Europe are heeding that warning.

"This whole situation has just emphasized – yet again – Europe's fundamental weakness {