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This very day, a self-styled Alliance of the Committed, largely composed of EU leaders, convened in Paris with delegates of the Trump administration, aiming to achieve additional headway on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to halt the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that meeting desired to jeopardise keeping the Americans onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that opulent and luxurious gathering, and the prevailing tension was exceptionally tense.

Recall the events of the past week: the Trump administration's divisive incursion in Venezuela and the American leader's assertion shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of defense".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an self-governing region of Copenhagen.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated across from two powerful figures speaking on behalf of Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European counterparts not to alienating the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to compartmentalize Greenland and the debate on the war separate. But with the political temperature mounting from Washington and Denmark, leaders of big EU countries at the Paris meeting issued a communiqué asserting: "The island is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be attained together, in conjunction with treaty partners like the America".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to determine on matters concerning the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the statement continued.

The statement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was delayed to be drafted and, owing to the limited number of signatories to the statement, it was unable to demonstrate a European Union united in objective.

"Had there been a common declaration from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in support of Danish authority, that would have sent a strong signal to the US," commented a European foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the contradiction at hand at the Paris summit. Several European government and other officials, such as the alliance and the European Union, are trying to engage the White House in protecting the future autonomy of a continental state (the Eastern European nation) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, arresting its head of state, while also still actively challenging the autonomy of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both participants of the military bloc NATO. They are, as stated by Danish officials, profoundly strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his ambition to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a major crisis for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Overlooked

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his determination to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of forcible annexation.

Recently that the island is "crucially located right now, Greenland is frequented by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Copenhagen contests that claim. It not long ago vowed to invest $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a bilateral agreement, the US maintains a strategic outpost already on the island – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the total of troops there from about 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of taking its eye off Arctic Security, recently.

Copenhagen has suggested it is open to discussion about a bigger US footprint on the territory and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's warning of independent moves, 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 past few days, her counterparts throughout Europe are heeding that warning.

"The current crisis has just underlined – for the umpteenth time – the EU's core shortcoming {