🔗 Share this article

Just this morning, a so-called Coalition of the Willing, mostly composed of EU heads of state, gathered in Paris with delegates of US President Donald Trump, attempting to make further headway on a durable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting wished to endanger keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that grand and sparkling summit, and the fundamental mood was profoundly strained.

Recall the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's divisive intervention in the South American nation and the US president's assertion following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is located in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent territory of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was positioned opposite two influential personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from her EU colleagues to avoid alienating the US over Greenland, lest that undermines US support for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to separate Greenland and the debate on the war distinct. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of big states at the talks put out a statement saying: "This territory is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be secured jointly, in cooperation with treaty partners including the America".

"It is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to rule on affairs regarding the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the declaration added.

The statement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was delayed to be drafted and, owing to the restricted set of supporters to the statement, it was unable to project a Europe united in intent.

"If there had been a common position from all 27 European Union countries, plus alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's control, that would have conveyed a strong signal to the US," noted a EU defense specialist.

Reflect on the irony at work at the European gathering. Numerous European government and other leaders, such as NATO and the EU, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the White House in guaranteeing the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an external actor (Russia), just after the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, arresting its head of state, while also persistently publicly threatening the sovereignty of another European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both participants of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, extremely key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his ambition to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a profound crisis for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident Trump has expressed his intention to dominate the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

Recently that the island is "vitally important right now, Greenland is patrolled by foreign ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Copenhagen is not going to be able to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that claim. It recently vowed to allocate $4bn in Arctic security for boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US operates a military base presently on Greenland – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has scaled down the number of personnel there from around 10,000 during peak the confrontation to about 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off polar defense, up to this point.

Denmark has suggested it is willing to talk about a bigger US footprint on the territory and more but in light of the US President's assertion of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges in Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just underlined – once again – Europe's basic vulnerability {