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Just this morning, a self-styled Alliance of the Determined, predominantly composed of European leaders, met in the French capital with envoys of US President Donald Trump, hoping to achieve further advances on a lasting peace agreement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a plan to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that meeting desired to jeopardise keeping the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that grand and glittering gathering, and the underlying atmosphere was exceptionally strained.

Consider the actions of the past week: the White House's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the US president's declaration soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the standpoint of defense".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an self-governing territory of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was sitting opposite two influential individuals representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from her EU counterparts to refrain from antagonising the US over the Arctic question, lest that undermines US backing for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to keep Greenland and the discussions on the war distinct. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of major EU countries at the Paris meeting released a communiqué stating: "Greenland is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved jointly, in conjunction with NATO allies including the US".

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

The announcement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the limited group of supporters to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a Europe in agreement in intent.

"Had there been a unified position from all 27 member states, plus alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's authority, that would have conveyed a strong warning to Washington," noted a European foreign policy specialist.

Ponder the contradiction at work at the Paris summit. Several EU government and other officials, including the alliance and the EU, are seeking to engage the White House in protecting the future autonomy of a continental state (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Russia), just after the US has entered independent Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also still openly undermining the sovereignty of another EU member (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact NATO. They are, according to Danish officials, extremely strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, were Trump to fulfill his goal to acquire Greenland, would it represent not just an existential threat to NATO but also a major problem for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident Trump has spoken of his intention to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

He insisted that the island is "vitally important right now, it is patrolled by foreign naval assets all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the vantage point of national security and Denmark is incapable to provide security".

Copenhagen refutes that assertion. It not long ago pledged to spend $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a bilateral agreement, the US has a strategic outpost already on the island – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the number of staff there from approximately 10,000 during peak that era to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting the northern theater, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US footprint on the island and additional measures but faced with the US President's threat of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the US administration's actions in Venezuela this weekend, her fellow leaders across Europe are taking it seriously.

"The current crisis has just underlined – for the umpteenth time – Europe's core weakness {