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This very day, a so-called Coalition of the Willing, largely made up of EU heads of state, gathered in the French capital with representatives of US President Donald Trump, attempting to secure more advances on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a roadmap to halt the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting wished to endanger keeping the US engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that opulent and glittering summit, and the fundamental mood was profoundly strained.

Bear in mind the actions of the past week: the US administration's controversial incursion in the South American nation and the President Trump's assertion following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's six times the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an autonomous possession of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned across from two influential personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European counterparts to refrain from provoking the US over Greenland, for fear that that impacts US backing for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have much rather to keep the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the tensions escalating from the White House and Denmark, representatives of big states at the talks released a communiqué saying: "Greenland is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be attained jointly, in partnership with treaty partners like the United States".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the declaration added.

The statement was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics argue it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the small number of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to show a Europe aligned in objective.

"Were there a common statement from all 27 member states, along with alliance partner the UK, in defense of Danish authority, that would have conveyed a powerful message to Washington," noted a European defense expert.

Reflect on the paradox at play at the European gathering. Multiple EU government and other leaders, from NATO and the EU, are attempting to engage the US administration in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an outside force (Moscow), just after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, taking its president into custody, while also still openly threatening the autonomy of another European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, as stated by Danish officials, profoundly key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, should Trump act upon his desire to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a major problem for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has voiced his resolve to control the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the landmass is "so strategic right now, it is frequented by foreign naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Denmark is not going to be able to provide security".

Denmark refutes that last statement. It has lately vowed to invest $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US operates a strategic outpost currently on the island – set up at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the number of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off polar defense, up to this point.

Copenhagen has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US role on the island and further cooperation but faced with the US President's warning of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the US administration's actions in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are taking it seriously.

"The current crisis has just emphasized – once again – the EU's core weakness {