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Earlier today, a self-styled Alliance of the Determined, largely made up of EU heads of state, met in Paris with envoys of US President Donald Trump, hoping to secure further headway on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to halt the hostilities with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that room wanted to risk maintaining the US involved.

Yet, there was an immense elephant in the room in that impressive and luxurious summit, and the fundamental mood was extremely tense.

Recall the developments of the past week: the White House's contentious involvement in the South American nation and the President Trump's declaration shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an semi-independent territory of Denmark's.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was positioned opposite two powerful individuals acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU allies to refrain from antagonising the US over the Arctic question, lest that affects US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have greatly desired to compartmentalize Greenland and the discussions on the war distinct. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of major European nations at the talks put out a statement stating: "The island is part of the alliance. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in conjunction with treaty partners such as the America".

"The decision is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on issues related to Denmark and Greenland," the statement further stated.

The communique was greeted by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was tardy to be drafted and, owing to the restricted group of supporters to the statement, it did not manage to project a Europe united in objective.

"If there had been a unified statement from all 27 EU partners, plus NATO ally the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a strong warning to the US," commented a European defense expert.

Consider the paradox at hand at the European gathering. Several European national and other officials, such as the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to engage the White House in protecting the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an outside force (Moscow), just after the US has entered independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also still openly undermining the autonomy of a different EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. At least, they were.

The question is, should Trump make good on his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a profound crisis for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has expressed his determination to dominate the Arctic island. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also not excluded taking it by force.

Recently that the island is "crucially located right now, Greenland is frequented by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to handle it".

Denmark contests that claim. It not long ago vowed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US maintains a defense installation already on Greenland – founded at the beginning of the Cold War. It has reduced the number of personnel there from around 10,000 during peak that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has indicated it is open to discussion about a bigger US presence on the island and further cooperation but in light of the US President's threat of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be taken seriously.

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

"This whole situation has just highlighted – once again – Europe's basic vulnerability {