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This very day, a self-styled Alliance of the Committed, predominantly composed of EU leaders, convened in Paris with envoys of US President Donald Trump, hoping to make further progress on a lasting peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to halt the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that gathering desired to endanger maintaining the US onboard.

Yet, there was an enormous glaring omission in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the underlying atmosphere was profoundly tense.

Recall the actions of the last few days: the Trump administration's contentious intervention in Venezuela and the American leader's insistence shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of defense".

This massive island is the world's greatest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an self-governing region of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated facing two influential personalities representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

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

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to keep Greenland and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from the White House and Denmark, leaders of big states at the Paris meeting issued a statement saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the North must therefore be attained collectively, in cooperation with alliance members including the United States".

"The decision is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on matters regarding Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration further stated.

The statement was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers say it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the limited set of signatories to the declaration, it did not manage to show a Europe in agreement in objective.

"If there had been a joint statement from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in support of Danish authority, that would have conveyed a resounding message to the US," commented a EU defense analyst.

Ponder the irony at play at the France meeting. Several European national and other officials, such as the alliance and the EU, are trying to involve the US administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to actively threatening the sovereignty of another continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. Or were.

The issue is, were Trump to make good on his goal to bring Greenland under US control, would it represent not just an existential threat to NATO but also a major problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has spoken of his intention to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "vitally important right now, Greenland is covered with foreign vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Denmark is not going to be able to do it".

Denmark refutes that claim. It has lately pledged to spend $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a bilateral agreement, the US maintains a strategic outpost already on Greenland – established at the start of the Cold War. It has reduced the figure of staff there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has long been accused of taking its eye off polar defense, up to this point.

Copenhagen has indicated it is open to discussion about a expanded US role on the territory and further cooperation but in light of the US President's assertion of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to control Greenland should be taken seriously.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts across Europe are heeding that warning.

"This whole situation has just underlined – yet again – Europe's fundamental shortcoming {