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Earlier today, a informal Coalition of the Willing, largely composed of EU heads of state, gathered in the French capital with envoys of US President Donald Trump, hoping to achieve more headway on a durable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to halt the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", no-one in that meeting wanted to risk retaining the US involved.

Yet, there was an enormous glaring omission in that opulent and glittering Paris meeting, and the underlying tension was extremely strained.

Recall the events of the recent days: the White House's divisive involvement in Venezuela and the US president's insistence following this, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned across from two powerful figures acting for Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from her EU allies to avoid provoking the US over the Arctic question, lest that undermines US support for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have far preferred to keep the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from the White House and Copenhagen, representatives of major European nations at the gathering released a statement saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the North must therefore be attained together, in cooperation with treaty partners such as the United States".

"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and no one else, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the communiqué added.

The announcement was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was delayed to be formulated and, due to the restricted group of endorsers to the statement, it did not manage to show a Europe aligned in intent.

"Were there a common position from all 27 member states, plus alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's authority, that would have delivered a powerful message to America," commented a European defense specialist.

Consider the paradox at work at the France meeting. Multiple EU national and other leaders, including the alliance and the EU, are seeking to engage the US administration in protecting the future autonomy of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an external actor (Moscow), just after the US has swooped into independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also persistently openly undermining the sovereignty of a further EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, profoundly strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it represent not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a major problem for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has voiced his intention to acquire Greenland. He's suggested purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "vitally important right now, Greenland is frequented by foreign vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to do it".

Denmark strongly denies that assertion. It has lately vowed to invest $4bn in the island's defense including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US operates a military base currently on the island – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the number of personnel there from around 10,000 during the height of the confrontation 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 territory and further cooperation but in light of the US President's assertion of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

In the wake of the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges in Europe are taking it seriously.

"The current crisis has just highlighted – yet again – Europe's core weakness {