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Earlier today, a so-called Coalition of the Determined, predominantly composed of EU heads of state, gathered in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, aiming to make more advances on a durable peace agreement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a roadmap to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that room wished to endanger maintaining the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that impressive and glittering summit, and the underlying atmosphere was profoundly tense.

Consider the developments of the recent days: the Trump administration's controversial intervention in the South American nation and the US president's declaration following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an self-governing territory of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned opposite two key personalities acting for Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from her EU allies to refrain from antagonising the US over the Arctic question, for fear that that affects US support for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to keep the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine apart. But with the tensions rising from Washington and Denmark, leaders of big EU countries at the Paris meeting released a declaration stating: "The island is part of NATO. Stability in the North must therefore be attained jointly, in cooperation with alliance members including the United States".

"The decision is for Denmark and Greenland, and them alone, to determine on matters related to the kingdom and Greenland," the communiqué added.

The statement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics say it was delayed to be formulated and, because of the limited group of supporters to the statement, it was unable to demonstrate a Europe aligned in intent.

"If there had been a unified position from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a powerful signal to Washington," stated a European foreign policy analyst.

Reflect on the paradox at work at the Paris summit. Numerous European national and other leaders, such as NATO and the European Union, are trying to engage the US administration in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist land claims of an outside force (Russia), just after the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela militarily, arresting its head of state, while also still openly challenging the territorial integrity of a further continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, profoundly close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, should Trump make good on his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a significant problem for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident Trump has voiced his resolve to acquire Greenland. He's proposed buying it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the landmass is "so strategic right now, Greenland is patrolled by foreign naval assets all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Denmark is not going to be able to do it".

Copenhagen refutes that last statement. It recently pledged to allocate $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US has a defense installation already on Greenland – founded at the beginning of the East-West standoff. It has scaled down the figure of personnel there from about 10,000 during peak that era to approximately 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking the northern theater, until now.

Denmark has suggested it is amenable to dialogue about a larger US footprint on the island and more but confronted by the US President's threat of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

After the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are taking it seriously.

"These developments has just underlined – yet again – Europe's fundamental weakness {