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Just this morning, a so-called Alliance of the Committed, predominantly made up of EU leaders, met in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, aiming to achieve further headway on a durable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to end the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", nobody in that meeting wished to risk maintaining the US onboard.

Yet, there was an immense unspoken issue in that impressive and glittering summit, and the fundamental atmosphere was profoundly strained.

Bear in mind the actions of the last few days: the White House's contentious involvement in the South American nation and the American leader's declaration shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

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

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

She was subject to urging from European allies to avoid antagonising the US over the Greenland issue, in case that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have much rather to keep the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine separate. But with the political temperature escalating from Washington and Denmark, leaders of major EU countries at the gathering released a statement saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be attained jointly, in conjunction with NATO allies such as the America".

"It is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to determine on issues related to Denmark and its autonomous territory," the communiqué added.

The statement was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was slow to be formulated and, because of the limited number of supporters to the statement, it was unable to project a European Union in agreement in intent.

"Were there a joint statement from all 27 European Union countries, plus alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's authority, that would have delivered a strong message to Washington," noted a EU foreign policy analyst.

Reflect on the paradox at hand at the European gathering. Multiple EU national and other leaders, including NATO and the European Union, are seeking to involve the US administration in protecting the future autonomy of a continental state (the Eastern European nation) against the expansionist land claims of an outside force (Russia), just after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also still publicly threatening the territorial integrity of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both participants of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Danish officials, extremely strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his goal to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a major challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not the first time Trump has expressed his intention to control the Arctic island. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

Recently that the landmass is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Denmark is incapable to do it".

Denmark contests that assertion. It recently pledged to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US has a strategic outpost currently on the island – founded at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has cut the number of troops there from around 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking polar defense, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is amenable to dialogue about a larger US presence on the territory and further cooperation but in light of the US President's warning of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts across Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just underlined – yet again – Europe's basic vulnerability {