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Earlier today, a informal Group of the Willing, predominantly consisting of EU heads of state, gathered in the French capital with delegates of the Trump administration, attempting to secure further headway on a sustainable peace agreement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that room desired to jeopardise retaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that grand and luxurious gathering, and the fundamental mood was extremely strained.

Recall the events of the past week: the US administration's controversial incursion in the South American nation and the US president's assertion shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of defense".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's sixfold the dimensions of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was sitting facing two powerful figures speaking on behalf of Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European counterparts to avoid antagonising the US over the Greenland issue, lest that impacts US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to compartmentalize Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the tensions rising from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of leading European nations at the gathering put out a statement asserting: "Greenland is part of the alliance. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in cooperation with treaty partners like the America".

"The decision is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to decide on matters regarding the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the statement continued.

The communique was greeted by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers say it was delayed to be formulated and, owing to the small set of endorsers to the statement, it failed to demonstrate a European Union united in intent.

"If there had been a common position from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Danish control, that would have conveyed a powerful message to Washington," commented a European foreign policy analyst.

Reflect on the irony at work at the Paris summit. Numerous European government and other leaders, from NATO and the EU, are trying to engage the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future independence of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), immediately after the US has swooped into independent Venezuela militarily, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to openly threatening the autonomy of a further EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. At least, they were.

The dilemma is, should Trump fulfill his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it represent not just an existential threat to NATO but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his intention to acquire Greenland. He's proposed acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

Recently that the landmass is "vitally important right now, Greenland is frequented by foreign ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of national security and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that claim. It recently committed to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a mutual pact, the US has a strategic outpost currently on the island – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has cut the figure of troops there from about 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has signaled it is amenable to dialogue about a larger US presence on the territory and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's assertion of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

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