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Just this morning, a self-styled Coalition of the Determined, predominantly made up of European leaders, gathered in Paris with delegates of US President Donald Trump, attempting to make more headway on a durable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to end the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that gathering wished to endanger maintaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an immense unspoken issue in that impressive and glittering Paris meeting, and the fundamental mood was profoundly tense.

Consider the events of the last few days: the White House's divisive involvement in the South American nation and the US president's assertion shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the size of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an self-governing territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting facing two influential personalities acting for Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU colleagues to avoid alienating the US over the Arctic question, for fear that that affects US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have far preferred to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the political temperature rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of major European nations at the talks issued a declaration stating: "Greenland is part of NATO. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be achieved jointly, in partnership with NATO allies including the America".

"The decision is for Denmark and Greenland, and them alone, to decide on matters concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the communiqué continued.

The statement was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics say it was tardy to be drafted and, owing to the small set of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to show a European Union in agreement in purpose.

"Were there a common position from all 27 European Union countries, along with NATO ally the UK, in backing of Danish authority, that would have delivered a strong message to America," commented a European defense expert.

Consider the paradox at work at the European gathering. Multiple EU government and other officials, including NATO and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the US administration in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a continental state (Ukraine) against the aggressive geopolitical designs of an outside force (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also still publicly threatening the autonomy of a different continental ally (Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both participants of the defensive pact NATO. They are, in the view of Danish officials, exceptionally strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, if Trump were to act upon his goal to assert control over the island, would it represent not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a major challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident Trump has expressed his intention to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the island is "vitally important right now, it is patrolled by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Denmark is not going to be able to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that assertion. It has lately pledged to invest $4bn in the island's defense including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US maintains a strategic outpost already on Greenland – established at the beginning of the East-West standoff. It has cut the total of staff there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking Arctic Security, recently.

Denmark has signaled it is amenable to dialogue about a expanded US footprint on the island and additional measures but confronted by the US President's assertion of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts in Europe are taking it seriously.

"These developments has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – the EU's fundamental shortcoming {