Just this morning, a informal Coalition of the Willing, predominantly consisting of EU leaders, gathered in the French capital with representatives of US President Donald Trump, aiming to make additional headway on a sustainable peace deal for Ukraine.
With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to end the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", nobody in that gathering wanted to risk retaining the Americans involved.
Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the prevailing tension was exceptionally tense.
Consider the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's contentious involvement in the South American nation and the US president's declaration soon after, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".
The vast Arctic territory is the world's biggest island – it's six times the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an self-governing territory of Denmark's.
At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two influential figures speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.
She was facing pressure from her EU colleagues to refrain from provoking the US over the Greenland issue, lest that affects US backing for the Ukrainian cause.
Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to separate Greenland and the debate on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of leading European nations at the talks issued a declaration stating: "The island is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be attained collectively, in conjunction with treaty partners including the America".
"It is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to rule on matters concerning the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the communiqué further stated.
The announcement was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was slow to be drafted and, due to the small group of supporters to the statement, it was unable to demonstrate a Europe aligned in objective.
"If there had been a common position from all 27 member states, along with NATO ally the UK, in support of Danish control, that would have conveyed a powerful warning to Washington," stated a European foreign policy specialist.
Reflect on the contradiction at play at the European gathering. Numerous European national and other officials, from the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the US administration in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela militarily, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to publicly threatening the autonomy of a different EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).
To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both participants of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.
The issue is, if Trump were to make good on his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a significant challenge for the European Union?
Europe Risks Being Overlooked
This is not the first time President Trump has voiced his determination to dominate the Arctic island. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.
He insisted that the territory is "crucially located right now, it is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Copenhagen is not going to be able to do it".
Copenhagen strongly denies that last statement. It not long ago committed to invest $4bn in Arctic security for boats, drones and aircraft.
Pursuant to a treaty, the US maintains a strategic outpost already on the island – set up at the start of the Cold War. It has scaled down the figure of staff there from about 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting Arctic Security, up to this point.
Denmark has suggested it is open to discussion about a larger US role on the territory and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's warning of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.
Following the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges in Europe are doing just that.
"These developments has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – the EU's fundamental vulnerability {
