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Just this morning, a self-styled Alliance of the Determined, mostly consisting of European leaders, gathered in the French capital with representatives of President Trump, hoping to secure more progress on a durable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a plan to halt the conflict with Russia is "largely complete", no-one in that gathering desired to endanger keeping the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that opulent and glittering gathering, and the prevailing tension was exceptionally tense.

Recall the events of the recent days: the White House's divisive involvement in Venezuela and the US president's insistence following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated opposite two key figures speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU colleagues not to provoking the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Copenhagen, leaders of leading European nations at the Paris meeting issued a statement saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in conjunction with alliance members including the America".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on affairs regarding Denmark and its autonomous territory," the statement added.

The communique was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was delayed to be drafted and, because of the restricted number of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to demonstrate a Europe in agreement in purpose.

"Had there been a joint position from all 27 member states, along with alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have sent a strong signal to Washington," commented a EU foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the irony at hand at the France meeting. Numerous European national and other officials, such as the alliance and the EU, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in protecting the future independence of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an external actor (Moscow), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela by armed intervention, arresting its head of state, while also persistently publicly threatening the territorial integrity of another continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. Or were.

The issue is, were Trump to fulfill his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a significant problem for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident Trump has expressed his resolve to dominate the Arctic island. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

He insisted that the landmass is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Denmark is unable to handle it".

Copenhagen contests that last statement. It recently vowed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US has a defense installation presently on the island – founded at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has scaled down the figure of troops there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting Arctic Security, recently.

Copenhagen has indicated it is willing to talk about a bigger US presence on the territory and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's warning of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges throughout Europe are doing just that.

"These developments has just emphasized – once again – Europe's fundamental vulnerability {