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Earlier today, a self-styled Alliance of the Willing, mostly consisting of European leaders, gathered in Paris with envoys of the Trump administration, hoping to make additional progress on a lasting peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to conclude the war with Russia is "largely complete", nobody in that room wanted to endanger keeping the US engaged.

Yet, there was an enormous unspoken issue in that impressive and sparkling summit, and the prevailing mood was exceptionally strained.

Bear in mind the actions of the recent days: the White House's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the American leader's assertion soon after, that "we need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an semi-independent region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was sitting across from two powerful personalities representing Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European colleagues to avoid provoking the US over the Greenland issue, in case that impacts US assistance for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to keep the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of major states at the Paris meeting issued a statement asserting: "The island is part of NATO. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be achieved jointly, in cooperation with alliance members including the United States".

"It is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to determine on affairs concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The statement was received positively by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was slow to be drafted and, because of the restricted set of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to project a Europe in agreement in objective.

"Were there a common declaration from all 27 European Union countries, plus alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have sent a strong warning to Washington," noted a European defense expert.

Reflect on the paradox at work at the European gathering. Multiple European government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the EU, are trying to secure the cooperation of the US administration in protecting the future independence of a European country (Ukraine) against the aggressive land claims of an external actor (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered independent Venezuela by armed intervention, taking its president into custody, while also still openly challenging the autonomy of a further EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally key friends. At least, they were.

The dilemma is, were Trump to act upon his goal to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a profound crisis for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has voiced his resolve to control Greenland. 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 covered with Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that last statement. It recently vowed to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US operates a defense installation currently on Greenland – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the number of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of neglecting Arctic Security, recently.

Denmark has suggested it is open to discussion about a larger US presence on the territory and additional measures but in light of the US President's assertion of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be taken seriously.

After the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts across Europe are heeding that warning.

"This whole situation has just emphasized – yet again – the EU's core shortcoming {