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Earlier today, a informal Coalition of the Determined, mostly consisting of European leaders, gathered in the French capital with delegates of the Trump administration, hoping to make further progress on a sustainable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a plan to conclude the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", no-one in that gathering wished to endanger keeping the Washington onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that impressive and sparkling Paris meeting, and the fundamental tension was profoundly tense.

Consider the events of the last few days: the White House's controversial involvement in Venezuela and the President Trump's declaration shortly thereafter, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an autonomous possession of Denmark's.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was sitting opposite two powerful figures representing Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU allies to refrain from provoking the US over Greenland, lest that affects US backing for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have greatly desired to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on the war apart. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from the White House and Copenhagen, representatives of major states at the talks released a statement asserting: "The island is part of NATO. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be achieved jointly, in partnership with alliance members including the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on issues related to Denmark and Greenland," the declaration added.

The statement was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics argue it was tardy to be drafted and, owing to the small number of endorsers to the statement, it did not manage to demonstrate a European Union in agreement in intent.

"If there had been a joint statement from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's control, that would have conveyed a strong message to the US," stated a European defense expert.

Reflect on the paradox at hand at the France meeting. Numerous European national and other officials, such as the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to engage the US administration in protecting the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an external actor (Moscow), just after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, arresting its head of state, while also persistently openly threatening the autonomy of a different continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, profoundly key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, were Trump to fulfill his goal to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an existential threat to NATO but also a significant crisis for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has voiced his intention to acquire Greenland. He's proposed buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "crucially located right now, it is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the perspective of national security and Copenhagen is not going to be able to handle it".

Denmark contests that assertion. It has lately vowed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US has a defense installation currently on Greenland – founded at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has cut the total of staff there from approximately 10,000 during peak that era to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has signaled it is willing to talk about a larger US presence on the territory and additional measures but faced with the US President's threat of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

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

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