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Just this morning, a so-called Group of the Committed, mostly composed of EU leaders, met in the French capital with representatives of US President Donald Trump, aiming to make additional advances on a durable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to conclude the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting desired to risk retaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that opulent and glittering summit, and the fundamental atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

Bear in mind the actions of the last few days: the White House's divisive incursion in the South American nation and the President Trump's declaration following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of defense".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned facing two influential personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European colleagues to refrain from alienating the US over the Greenland issue, lest that affects US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to keep Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of big European nations at the gathering issued a communiqué saying: "This territory is part of NATO. Stability in the North must therefore be achieved jointly, in cooperation with treaty partners including the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland," the statement added.

The statement was greeted by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers say it was delayed to be drafted and, owing to the small group of endorsers to the declaration, it failed to show a Europe aligned in intent.

"Were there a common position from all 27 member states, along with NATO ally the UK, in support of Danish control, that would have sent a resounding warning to the US," stated a European defense specialist.

Ponder the contradiction at play at the European gathering. Numerous EU national and other officials, such as NATO and the EU, are seeking to engage the White House in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an outside force (Moscow), just after the US has swooped into independent Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also still actively undermining 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 NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, extremely close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, if Trump were to act upon his desire to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident Trump has voiced his resolve to dominate the Arctic island. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the territory is "crucially located right now, it is patrolled by foreign ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Denmark is incapable to do it".

Copenhagen refutes that last statement. It not long ago committed to invest $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US operates a strategic outpost presently on the island – set up at the beginning of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the total of staff there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to about 200 and the US has long been accused of taking its eye off polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has suggested it is willing to talk about a bigger US role on the island and further cooperation but in light of the US President's threat of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be taken seriously.

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

"The current crisis has just highlighted – for the umpteenth time – Europe's basic vulnerability {