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This very day, a informal Coalition of the Willing, mostly consisting of European officials, met in Paris with delegates of US President Donald Trump, aiming to make additional progress on a lasting peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", no-one in that gathering wished to endanger maintaining the US involved.

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

Consider the developments of the last few days: the Trump administration's contentious involvement in Venezuela and the President Trump's assertion following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of national security".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the size of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated across from two influential individuals representing Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU colleagues to refrain from antagonising the US over the Arctic question, for fear that that impacts US assistance for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have much rather to compartmentalize Greenland and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the political temperature escalating from Washington and Denmark, leaders of major EU countries at the Paris meeting put out a declaration saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured together, in partnership with treaty partners such as the America".

"Sovereignty is for Denmark and Greenland, and no one else, to determine on affairs concerning Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué further stated.

The statement was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was delayed to be put together and, owing to the small set of endorsers to the statement, it failed to demonstrate a European Union united in intent.

"Were there a common statement from all 27 member states, along with NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's control, that would have sent a resounding warning to America," commented a European defense analyst.

Consider the contradiction at hand at the Paris summit. Several EU national and other officials, from NATO and the EU, are attempting to engage the US administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a continental state (Ukraine) against the expansionist land claims of an external actor (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also persistently openly challenging the sovereignty of a different continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Danish officials, extremely strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, were Trump to make good on his desire to assert control over the island, would it represent not just an existential threat to NATO but also a significant crisis for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident Trump has expressed his intention to control the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded taking it by force.

On Sunday that the landmass is "vitally important right now, Greenland is frequented by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of defense and Denmark is not going to be able to do it".

Copenhagen contests that claim. It has lately committed to spend $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US maintains a military base currently on the island – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has scaled down the figure of personnel there from about 10,000 during the height of the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of taking its eye off polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has suggested it is open to discussion about a expanded US footprint on the territory and more but in light of the US President's warning of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

"These developments has just highlighted – yet again – the EU's fundamental vulnerability {