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Just this morning, a informal Group of the Willing, largely composed of European leaders, convened in Paris with delegates of President Trump, hoping to secure more headway on a sustainable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a roadmap to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that meeting wished to jeopardise retaining the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that impressive and luxurious summit, and the fundamental tension was extremely strained.

Consider the events of the past week: the Trump administration's contentious incursion in Venezuela and the American leader's declaration following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the viewpoint of defense".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an semi-independent territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was positioned across from two powerful individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European allies not to provoking the US over Greenland, lest that impacts US backing for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to keep the Arctic dispute and the debate on the war apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of leading European nations at the gathering released a communiqué saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in cooperation with alliance members like the America".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them only, to rule on affairs concerning Denmark and Greenland," the declaration added.

The communique was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics say it was tardy to be put together and, owing to the limited set of signatories to the statement, it failed to demonstrate a European Union in agreement in purpose.

"Were there a joint declaration from all 27 member states, plus alliance partner the UK, in support of Danish control, that would have delivered a powerful signal to the US," commented a EU foreign policy specialist.

Reflect on the irony at work at the European gathering. Multiple EU national and other officials, such as NATO and the EU, are seeking to engage the White House in protecting the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist land claims of an outside force (Moscow), on the heels of the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to openly threatening the autonomy of a different EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, profoundly key friends. At least, they were.

The dilemma is, should Trump act upon his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a profound crisis for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not the first time Trump has spoken of his determination to control Greenland. He's suggested purchasing it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the island is "vitally important right now, it is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Denmark is incapable to do it".

Copenhagen strongly denies that claim. It not long ago pledged to spend $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US maintains a defense installation presently on the island – founded at the beginning of the Cold War. It has scaled down the number of troops there from about 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking polar defense, until now.

Copenhagen has signaled it is open to discussion about a bigger US role on the island and additional measures but in light of the US President's assertion of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be taken seriously.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts in Europe are heeding that warning.

"These developments has just underlined – yet again – Europe's basic vulnerability {