Those Difficult Queries for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union as President Trump Makes Threats About the Arctic Island

This very day, a so-called Alliance of the Willing, mostly composed of EU officials, convened in the French capital with delegates of the Trump administration, attempting to achieve more progress on a lasting peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to halt the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting wished to endanger retaining the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an enormous unspoken issue in that grand and sparkling gathering, and the underlying tension was extremely tense.

Recall the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's controversial incursion in Venezuela and the US president's assertion shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of defense".

This massive island is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent territory of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was positioned opposite two powerful figures acting for Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU allies not to provoking the US over the Greenland issue, in case that affects US support for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have much rather to compartmentalize Greenland and the debate on Ukraine separate. But with the political temperature escalating from the White House and Denmark, representatives of big EU countries at the Paris meeting released a declaration saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved together, in conjunction with NATO allies such as the US".

"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and no one else, to determine on matters concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the communiqué added.

The announcement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was tardy to be put together and, because of the small number of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to project a European Union in agreement in purpose.

"Were there a common statement from all 27 EU partners, plus alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have delivered a powerful message to America," noted a EU defense specialist.

Reflect on the paradox at play at the Paris summit. Several European national and other officials, such as NATO and the EU, are trying to involve the Trump administration in protecting the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile land claims of an outside force (Russia), just after the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also still openly undermining the sovereignty of a different EU member (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the military bloc NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, extremely strong partners. At least, they were.

The issue is, if Trump were to make good on his goal to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a significant challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has expressed his intention to acquire Greenland. He's proposed purchasing it in the past. He's also not excluded taking it by force.

Recently that the landmass is "so strategic right now, Greenland is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Denmark is not going to be able to handle it".

Copenhagen refutes that claim. It recently vowed to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US maintains a defense installation presently on the island – established at the beginning of the Cold War. It has cut the total of troops there from about 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has often been faulted of overlooking polar defense, up to this point.

Denmark has suggested it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US presence on the territory and further cooperation but faced with the US President's threat of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts across Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just underlined – for the umpteenth time – the EU's basic shortcoming {