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Just this morning, a informal Coalition of the Determined, largely made up of European heads of state, gathered in Paris with representatives of the Trump administration, aiming to secure more headway on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a plan to halt the conflict with Russia is "largely complete", nobody in that gathering desired to jeopardise keeping the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an enormous glaring omission in that grand and sparkling Paris meeting, and the fundamental mood was profoundly tense.

Recall the actions of the last few days: the White House's controversial incursion in Venezuela and the US president's insistence soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the viewpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's largest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an self-governing territory of Copenhagen.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was positioned facing two key individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU colleagues to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US backing for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on the war distinct. But with the political temperature mounting from the White House and Copenhagen, representatives of big states at the Paris meeting put out a communiqué saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be secured jointly, in cooperation with NATO allies including the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to decide on matters regarding Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration continued.

The announcement was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was tardy to be drafted and, because of the limited set of signatories to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a Europe united in intent.

"If there had been a joint position from all 27 member states, plus NATO ally the UK, in defense of Danish sovereignty, that would have sent a strong warning to the US," commented a European foreign policy expert.

Reflect on the irony at play at the European gathering. Multiple European government and other leaders, from the alliance and the EU, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in protecting the future autonomy of a continental state (Ukraine) against the expansionist territorial ambitions of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also still openly undermining the territorial integrity of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both participants of the defensive pact NATO. They are, in the view of Danish officials, exceptionally close allies. Or were.

The issue is, if Trump were to act upon his goal to acquire Greenland, would it represent not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not the first time Trump has spoken of his resolve to dominate 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 "crucially located right now, Greenland is patrolled by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Copenhagen is unable to provide security".

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

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US maintains a strategic outpost presently on Greenland – established at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has scaled down the figure of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of overlooking Arctic Security, up to this point.

Copenhagen has signaled it is open to discussion about a expanded US presence on the territory and additional measures but confronted by the US President's warning of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

In the wake of the US administration's actions in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are doing just that.

"This whole situation has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – the EU's core vulnerability {