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Just this morning, a so-called Coalition of the Committed, mostly made up of European leaders, convened in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, attempting to achieve further headway on a sustainable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that gathering wanted to jeopardise keeping the US involved.

Yet, there was an enormous elephant in the room in that opulent and luxurious summit, and the fundamental atmosphere was profoundly uneasy.

Recall the actions of the past week: the White House's contentious involvement in Venezuela and the American leader's assertion soon after, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of defense".

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

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was positioned opposite two powerful individuals acting for Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European allies to refrain from antagonising the US over the Greenland issue, lest that impacts US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to keep Greenland and the debate on the war distinct. But with the tensions rising from Washington and Denmark, representatives of big EU countries at the gathering put out a declaration stating: "This territory is part of NATO. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be attained together, in conjunction with NATO allies like the United States".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to determine on issues concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration further stated.

The communique was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was delayed to be drafted and, due to the small group of endorsers to the statement, it was unable to demonstrate a European Union aligned in purpose.

"Were there a common declaration from all 27 member states, plus NATO ally the UK, in backing of Danish sovereignty, that would have delivered a powerful warning to America," stated a EU foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the paradox at work at the European gathering. Several European national and other leaders, from the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the US administration in protecting the future autonomy of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an external actor (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, detaining its leader, while also still publicly challenging the territorial integrity of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, if Trump were to fulfill his ambition to assert control over the island, would it represent not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident Trump has voiced his resolve to control Greenland. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

He insisted that the landmass is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of national security and Copenhagen is incapable to do it".

Denmark refutes that assertion. It not long ago committed to spend $4bn in the island's defense including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US has a strategic outpost currently on Greenland – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of personnel there from about 10,000 during the height of the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking the northern theater, recently.

Denmark has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US presence on the island and more but confronted by the US President's threat of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the US administration's actions in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders in Europe are heeding that warning.

"These developments has just emphasized – yet again – Europe's basic shortcoming {