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Earlier today, a so-called Coalition of the Committed, mostly composed of EU officials, gathered in the French capital with delegates of US President Donald Trump, hoping to secure more headway on a durable peace agreement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a plan to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that gathering wished to jeopardise retaining the US involved.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that impressive and sparkling gathering, and the fundamental mood was exceptionally strained.

Consider the developments of the recent days: the White House's divisive involvement in the South American nation and the President Trump's declaration following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's six times the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent possession of Copenhagen.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was seated facing two influential figures acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European allies to avoid alienating the US over Greenland, lest that impacts US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine separate. But with the tensions rising from the White House and Denmark, representatives of major EU countries at the talks issued a declaration saying: "Greenland is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be achieved jointly, in cooperation with alliance members such as the US".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to determine on affairs regarding the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the declaration continued.

The announcement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was tardy to be put together and, because of the restricted group of signatories to the declaration, it did not manage to demonstrate a Europe united in intent.

"Had there been a common position from all 27 EU partners, along with alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's authority, that would have conveyed a resounding signal to the US," commented a European defense expert.

Ponder the contradiction at work at the European gathering. Several European government and other leaders, such as NATO and the EU, are trying to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an outside force (Russia), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela militarily, detaining its leader, while also persistently publicly threatening the autonomy of a further European nation (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both participants of the defensive pact NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, extremely close allies. At least, they were.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his ambition to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a major challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has voiced his determination to dominate Greenland. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

On Sunday that the island is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by Russian and Chinese naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of national security and Denmark is unable to handle it".

Denmark strongly denies that claim. It recently vowed to spend $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US maintains a defense installation currently on Greenland – established at the beginning of the Cold War. It has scaled down the number of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking Arctic Security, until now.

Denmark has indicated it is willing to talk about a expanded US presence on the territory and more but confronted by the US President's threat of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges across Europe are heeding that warning.

"These developments has just highlighted – yet again – Europe's basic weakness {