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This very day, a so-called Group of the Committed, largely made up of European heads of state, gathered in the French capital with representatives of President Trump, hoping to achieve further headway on a durable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a plan to halt the conflict with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that gathering wished to jeopardise keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that opulent and glittering summit, and the fundamental mood was exceptionally strained.

Consider the actions of the recent days: the White House's controversial incursion in Venezuela and the American leader's assertion shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of defense".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was seated opposite two key individuals representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU counterparts to refrain from provoking the US over Greenland, lest that undermines US backing for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to keep the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of leading EU countries at the Paris meeting released a statement stating: "Greenland is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be secured collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies like the America".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to rule on issues related to the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the communiqué continued.

The communique was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the limited set of signatories to the declaration, it did not manage to demonstrate a Europe in agreement in objective.

"Were there a common position from all 27 EU partners, along with NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a powerful message to the US," stated a European foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the France meeting. Multiple European national and other officials, such as NATO and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the White House in safeguarding the future autonomy of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the expansionist territorial ambitions of an external actor (Moscow), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to publicly threatening the autonomy of a different European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both participants of the military bloc NATO. They are, as stated by Danish officials, extremely close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, should Trump act upon his ambition to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an severe risk to NATO but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

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

Recently that the landmass is "vitally important right now, it is covered with foreign vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of defense and Denmark is incapable to handle it".

Denmark strongly denies that claim. It has lately vowed to spend $4bn in Arctic security including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US maintains a defense installation presently on Greenland – set up at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking the northern theater, up to this point.

Copenhagen has indicated it is open to discussion about a larger US footprint on the island and further cooperation but in light of the US President's assertion of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges throughout Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just highlighted – for the umpteenth time – Europe's basic weakness {