🔗 Share this article

Earlier today, a so-called Alliance of the Committed, largely composed of European heads of state, gathered in the French capital with representatives of US President Donald Trump, aiming to achieve more headway on a lasting settlement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to end the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", nobody in that room desired to endanger keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an immense elephant in the room in that impressive and glittering gathering, and the prevailing tension was extremely uneasy.

Recall the developments of the past week: the US administration's controversial involvement in the South American nation and the American leader's assertion soon after, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an semi-independent territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was seated opposite two powerful figures speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European allies to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US support for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have far preferred to separate Greenland and the discussions on the war distinct. But with the political temperature rising from the White House and Denmark, representatives of leading EU countries at the gathering released a communiqué saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be attained collectively, in conjunction with alliance members including the US".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to rule on issues related to the kingdom and Greenland," the statement added.

The announcement was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was tardy to be drafted and, because of the restricted group of endorsers to the declaration, it did not manage to project a European Union aligned in purpose.

"Were there a common declaration from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in backing of Danish sovereignty, that would have conveyed a resounding signal to America," commented a European defense analyst.

Reflect on the contradiction at hand at the Paris summit. Multiple European national and other leaders, from the alliance and the European Union, are trying to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in protecting the future independence of a European country (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an external actor (Moscow), immediately after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also still publicly undermining the sovereignty of another European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, according to Danish officials, profoundly key friends. Or were.

The issue is, should Trump fulfill his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a significant problem for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Overlooked

This is not the first time President Trump has spoken of his resolve to control the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of taking it by force.

He insisted that the landmass is "crucially located right now, it is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Denmark contests that claim. It has lately vowed to allocate $4bn in Arctic security for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US maintains a defense installation already on the island – founded at the beginning of the Cold War. It has reduced the total of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off Arctic Security, recently.

Copenhagen has indicated it is open to discussion about a expanded US role on the territory and more but faced with the US President's warning of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are heeding that warning.

"The current crisis has just highlighted – yet again – the EU's core weakness {