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Just this morning, a self-styled Group of the Willing, predominantly made up of European leaders, met in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, aiming to secure more progress on a durable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "90% of the way there", no-one in that gathering desired to jeopardise keeping the Americans engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that opulent and sparkling Paris meeting, and the underlying tension was profoundly strained.

Consider the developments of the recent days: the Trump administration's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the US president's assertion soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of national security".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an autonomous possession of Denmark's.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was sitting across from two influential personalities acting for Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU allies not to provoking the US over Greenland, lest that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have far preferred to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on the war distinct. But with the tensions escalating from Washington and Denmark, representatives of big states at the talks issued a declaration asserting: "This territory is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be attained together, in partnership with alliance members including the US".

"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the communiqué further stated.

The announcement was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics argue it was slow to be put together and, due to the small set of supporters to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a Europe aligned in purpose.

"Were there a joint position from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in support of Danish authority, that would have delivered a strong message to the US," commented a European defense expert.

Consider the irony at hand at the European gathering. Multiple European national and other leaders, including the alliance and the EU, are attempting to engage the US administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an outside force (Moscow), immediately after the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, arresting its head of state, while also still publicly challenging the sovereignty of a further continental ally (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 Danish officials, profoundly key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to act upon his goal to acquire Greenland, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a major crisis for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not the first time President Trump has voiced his determination to acquire the Arctic island. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded taking it by force.

Recently that the island is "vitally important right now, it is frequented by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to handle it".

Denmark contests that claim. It recently pledged to spend $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US has a strategic outpost currently on the island – founded at the beginning of the Cold War. It has scaled down the figure of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US role on the territory and additional measures but faced with the US President's warning of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts throughout Europe are heeding that warning.

"These developments has just highlighted – once again – Europe's core shortcoming {