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Just this morning, a self-styled Alliance of the Committed, largely consisting of European heads of state, convened in the French capital with representatives of the Trump administration, attempting to make additional progress on a lasting peace agreement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to halt the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that meeting wished to risk keeping the US engaged.

Yet, there was an enormous elephant in the room in that grand and glittering summit, and the underlying tension was profoundly tense.

Recall the events of the last few days: the White House's controversial incursion in Venezuela and the American leader's declaration shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an self-governing territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was positioned across from two influential individuals representing Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU allies not to alienating the US over the Greenland issue, in case that undermines US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to keep Greenland and the debate on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from the White House and Denmark, representatives of big states at the talks released a statement asserting: "This territory is part of NATO. Stability in the North must therefore be secured together, in conjunction with treaty partners including the United States".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to determine on affairs concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The communique was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was delayed to be drafted and, because of the small set of signatories to the declaration, it did not manage to show a European Union aligned in purpose.

"Were there a common statement from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a resounding signal to America," commented a EU defense specialist.

Ponder the irony at work at the European gathering. Multiple European national and other officials, from the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the White House in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the aggressive land claims of an foreign power (Russia), just after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also persistently publicly threatening the territorial integrity of a different European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Danish officials, exceptionally key friends. At least, they were.

The issue is, were Trump to fulfill his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a profound crisis for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Overlooked

This is far from the first instance President Trump has expressed his determination to dominate Greenland. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of forcible annexation.

He insisted that the island is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by foreign ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Denmark is not going to be able to handle it".

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

Under a bilateral agreement, the US operates a military base currently on Greenland – established at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the number of troops there from about 10,000 during peak that era to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has signaled it is willing to talk about a larger US footprint on the territory and further cooperation but in light of the US President's threat of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to take Greenland should be taken seriously.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges in Europe are heeding that warning.

"These developments has just emphasized – once again – the EU's core vulnerability {