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Earlier today, a so-called Alliance of the Committed, predominantly consisting of European officials, convened in the French capital with delegates of the Trump administration, aiming to make further progress on a lasting peace agreement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to halt the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that gathering wished to endanger retaining the US onboard.

Yet, there was an enormous elephant in the room in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the fundamental mood was exceptionally tense.

Recall the events of the last few days: the US administration's controversial involvement in Venezuela and the American leader's declaration shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of defense".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an semi-independent possession of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two key individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European allies to avoid alienating the US over Greenland, in case that impacts US assistance 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 tensions rising from the White House and Copenhagen, leaders of leading EU countries at the gathering released a statement stating: "This territory is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in partnership with NATO allies such as the America".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on matters related to Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration added.

The communique was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the restricted set of signatories to the statement, it did not manage to show a Europe aligned in objective.

"If there had been a common position from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have conveyed a resounding signal to America," stated a EU defense analyst.

Ponder the paradox at work at the European gathering. Several EU government and other officials, such as NATO and the EU, are attempting to involve the Trump administration in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has swooped into independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to publicly undermining the territorial integrity of a different continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Danish officials, extremely key friends. At least, they were.

The dilemma is, should Trump make good on his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a significant problem for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is far from the first instance Trump has expressed his determination to acquire the Arctic island. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "vitally important right now, Greenland is patrolled by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the vantage point of defense and Copenhagen is unable to provide security".

Denmark refutes that last statement. It recently vowed to invest $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US maintains a strategic outpost already on Greenland – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the number of staff there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting polar defense, up to this point.

Copenhagen has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a larger US presence on the island and more but confronted by the US President's assertion of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

In the wake of the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges throughout Europe are doing just that.

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