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Just this morning, a so-called Alliance of the Willing, predominantly consisting of European leaders, met in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, hoping to make further progress on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to conclude the conflict with Russia is "largely complete", no-one in that room wanted to risk keeping the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that grand and luxurious Paris meeting, and the underlying atmosphere was exceptionally strained.

Bear in mind the actions of the past week: the US administration's divisive intervention in the South American nation and the American leader's declaration soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of defense".

Greenland is the world's largest island – it's six times the dimensions of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was seated across from two influential personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European counterparts not to provoking the US over Greenland, in case that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to keep Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from Washington and Denmark, leaders of major EU countries at the talks issued a communiqué stating: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be secured together, in partnership with alliance members including the US".

"The decision is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to determine on issues regarding Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration added.

The announcement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was slow to be formulated and, because of the limited group of supporters to the statement, it was unable to demonstrate a European Union united in intent.

"Had there been a joint statement from all 27 EU partners, plus alliance partner the UK, in support of Danish authority, that would have sent a resounding warning to Washington," noted a EU foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the irony at play at the European gathering. Several European national and other leaders, from NATO and the European Union, are attempting to involve the US administration in protecting the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist territorial ambitions of an foreign power (Russia), on the heels of the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also still openly undermining the territorial integrity of another European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, profoundly key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, if Trump were to fulfill his goal to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an severe risk to NATO but also a profound challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not the first time President Trump has expressed his intention to acquire Greenland. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

He insisted that the island is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to do it".

Denmark strongly denies that claim. It has lately committed to invest $4bn in Arctic security including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US maintains a defense installation already on Greenland – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of staff there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of overlooking the northern theater, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is open to discussion about a larger US footprint on the territory and further cooperation but faced with the US President's warning of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

"These developments has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – the EU's core shortcoming {