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Earlier today, a informal Alliance of the Committed, mostly composed of European leaders, gathered in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, attempting to achieve more headway on a lasting peace deal for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to end the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting desired to risk keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that impressive and luxurious gathering, and the fundamental tension was profoundly uneasy.

Recall the events of the past week: the White House's divisive incursion in Venezuela and the President Trump's declaration following this, 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 dimensions of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an self-governing possession of Copenhagen.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was positioned facing two key personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU counterparts to refrain from alienating the US over the Greenland issue, for fear that that affects US support for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have far preferred to separate the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine apart. But with the tensions escalating from the White House and Denmark, leaders of big states at the talks released a statement stating: "This territory is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in partnership with alliance members including the United States".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to decide on matters related to the kingdom and Greenland," the declaration continued.

The statement was received positively by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was delayed to be formulated and, because of the limited set of endorsers to the statement, it did not manage to show a Europe aligned in intent.

"Were there a joint declaration from all 27 EU partners, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a strong signal to America," commented a European defense expert.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the European gathering. Several European national and other leaders, from the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to engage the Trump administration in safeguarding the future independence of a continental state (Ukraine) against the hostile land claims of an foreign power (Russia), just after the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also persistently openly challenging the territorial integrity of another EU member (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, as stated by Danish officials, extremely close allies. Or were.

The issue is, if Trump were to fulfill his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a significant crisis for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident Trump has voiced his resolve to acquire the Arctic island. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out taking it by force.

Recently that the landmass is "vitally important right now, Greenland is patrolled by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Denmark is not going to be able to handle it".

Copenhagen strongly denies that last statement. It recently committed to spend $4bn in Arctic security for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US operates a military base presently on Greenland – founded at the beginning of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the total of troops there from approximately 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off polar defense, up to this point.

Copenhagen has suggested it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US presence on the island and additional measures but in light of the US President's warning of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to take Greenland should be taken seriously.

In the wake of the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are taking it seriously.

"These developments has just highlighted – once again – the EU's basic vulnerability {