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Just this morning, a so-called Alliance of the Determined, predominantly consisting of EU heads of state, convened in the French capital with representatives of the Trump administration, attempting to secure additional headway on a sustainable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a framework to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that meeting wished to endanger retaining the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an immense unspoken issue in that impressive and luxurious Paris meeting, and the prevailing tension was exceptionally uneasy.

Recall the developments of the past week: the Trump administration's controversial incursion in the South American nation and the US president's insistence soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's six times the area of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting across from two powerful personalities representing Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU colleagues not to antagonising the US over Greenland, in case that undermines US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have greatly desired to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of major EU countries at the Paris meeting released a communiqué saying: "This territory is part of the alliance. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be achieved together, in conjunction with treaty partners like the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué further stated.

The announcement was welcomed by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was tardy to be drafted and, owing to the limited set of endorsers to the declaration, it did not manage to demonstrate a European Union united in intent.

"Had there been a unified declaration from all 27 EU partners, plus NATO ally the UK, in defense of Danish sovereignty, that would have sent a powerful signal to America," stated a European defense specialist.

Reflect on the paradox at hand at the European gathering. Numerous European government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the White House in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has intervened in independent Venezuela militarily, detaining its leader, while also continuing to actively challenging the territorial integrity of another EU member (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both participants of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, extremely key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, were Trump to act upon his ambition to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not the first time Trump has voiced his intention to acquire the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the island is "vitally important right now, Greenland is frequented by foreign vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the vantage point of defense and Denmark is not going to be able to provide security".

Denmark refutes that last statement. It not long ago vowed to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US operates a military base currently on the island – established at the start of the Cold War. It has cut the number of personnel there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting Arctic Security, until now.

Denmark has signaled it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US footprint on the island and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's threat of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to take Greenland should be taken seriously.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders across Europe are taking it seriously.

"The current crisis has just highlighted – once again – Europe's core vulnerability {