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Just this morning, a so-called Coalition of the Willing, mostly consisting of EU leaders, convened in Paris with representatives of the Trump administration, attempting to achieve additional headway on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a framework to conclude the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", nobody in that meeting desired to jeopardise keeping the Washington engaged.

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

Recall the developments of the recent days: the Trump administration's controversial incursion in the South American nation and the US president's insistence following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

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

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was positioned opposite two powerful individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European colleagues to refrain from provoking the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have much rather to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of leading states at the Paris meeting issued a communiqué saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in cooperation with alliance members including the America".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on issues concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the statement further stated.

The announcement was received positively by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics say it was slow to be formulated and, owing to the limited set of supporters to the declaration, it failed to project a European Union aligned in intent.

"Had there been a common position from all 27 member states, along with NATO ally the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a resounding warning to America," stated a EU defense analyst.

Reflect on the contradiction at play at the Paris summit. Multiple European national and other officials, from NATO and the EU, are seeking to involve the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future sovereignty of a European country (Ukraine) against the hostile land claims of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also persistently openly challenging the autonomy of another continental ally (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Danish officials, profoundly close allies. At least, they were.

The issue is, should Trump fulfill his desire to acquire Greenland, would it mark not just an existential threat to NATO but also a major challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is not the first time Trump has spoken of his resolve to acquire Greenland. He's suggested purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

On Sunday that the island is "so strategic right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to provide security".

Copenhagen refutes that claim. It not long ago committed to allocate $4bn in the island's defense for boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a mutual pact, the US operates a defense installation currently on Greenland – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has cut the number of personnel there from about 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of neglecting Arctic Security, until now.

Denmark has indicated it is open to discussion about a expanded US role on the territory and additional measures but in light of the US President's threat of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to take Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

In the wake of the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges throughout Europe are doing just that.

"These developments has just underlined – yet again – Europe's core shortcoming {