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This very day, a self-styled Coalition of the Committed, mostly consisting of European leaders, met in the French capital with representatives of President Trump, aiming to make more headway on a durable peace deal for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to end the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that gathering wanted to endanger keeping the Washington onboard.

Yet, there was an enormous unspoken issue in that opulent and luxurious gathering, and the fundamental tension was profoundly strained.

Bear in mind the developments of the last few days: the US administration's controversial intervention in the South American nation and the President Trump's declaration shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of defense".

This massive island is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent region of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was seated across from two influential individuals representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European colleagues to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, in case that impacts US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have greatly desired to separate Greenland and the discussions on the war apart. But with the political temperature mounting from Washington and Denmark, leaders of leading states at the gathering issued a statement stating: "This territory is part of the alliance. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be attained jointly, in conjunction with treaty partners like the America".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to determine on affairs related to the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The statement was greeted by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was tardy to be drafted and, due to the limited number of endorsers to the statement, it failed to project a Europe in agreement in intent.

"Had there been a unified declaration from all 27 member states, plus alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a strong signal to America," stated a EU foreign policy expert.

Ponder the paradox at play at the European gathering. Numerous EU government and other officials, from the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to involve the US administration in safeguarding the future autonomy of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the aggressive land claims of an foreign power (Russia), on the heels of the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also still actively threatening the sovereignty of a different continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both participants of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, exceptionally strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, were Trump to act upon his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an severe risk to NATO but also a significant challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not the first time President Trump has spoken of his resolve to acquire Greenland. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

He insisted that the island is "crucially located right now, it is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Denmark is unable to handle it".

Copenhagen strongly denies that assertion. It has lately vowed to spend $4bn in Arctic security including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US operates a military base presently on the island – set up at the beginning of the Cold War. It has cut the number of personnel there from around 10,000 during peak that era to around 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting the northern theater, until now.

Copenhagen has suggested it is willing to talk about a bigger US role on the territory and further cooperation but faced with the US President's threat of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts across Europe are doing just that.

"The current crisis has just emphasized – yet again – Europe's basic shortcoming {