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Earlier today, a self-styled Alliance of the Willing, predominantly made up of European officials, convened in Paris with envoys of the Trump administration, hoping to achieve further advances on a durable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to conclude the war with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that gathering wished to jeopardise maintaining the US involved.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that impressive and luxurious Paris meeting, and the underlying tension was exceptionally uneasy.

Recall the actions of the recent days: the White House's divisive incursion in the South American nation and the American leader's insistence soon after, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

Greenland is the world's largest island – it's six times the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an self-governing possession of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two key personalities acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European counterparts not to alienating the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US support for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to separate Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine separate. But with the tensions escalating from Washington and Denmark, representatives of leading European nations at the talks issued a communiqué stating: "The island is part of NATO. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be attained jointly, in cooperation with NATO allies including the America".

"Sovereignty is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on issues regarding Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration further stated.

The communique was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was slow to be put together and, because of the restricted number of supporters to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a Europe in agreement in objective.

"If there had been a unified position from all 27 member states, along with alliance partner the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a powerful signal to America," stated a EU defense analyst.

Reflect on the irony at work at the Paris summit. Numerous European government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to involve the White House in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a continental state (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an outside force (Moscow), on the heels of the US has swooped into independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also still publicly challenging the territorial integrity of a different EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, exceptionally key friends. Or were.

The question is, were Trump to act upon his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a major challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his intention to control Greenland. He's proposed acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the landmass is "vitally important right now, Greenland is patrolled by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is not going to be able to do it".

Denmark contests that assertion. It has lately vowed to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US operates a strategic outpost presently on the island – founded at the beginning of the Cold War. It has cut the figure of personnel there from approximately 10,000 during peak the confrontation to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has indicated it is willing to talk about a bigger US role on the territory and additional measures but in light of the US President's warning of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be taken seriously.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her fellow leaders throughout Europe are doing just that.

"These developments has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – Europe's core vulnerability {