Those Difficult Queries for NATO and the European Union as President Trump Targets Greenland

Earlier today, a informal Alliance of the Committed, largely consisting of EU heads of state, met in Paris with representatives of US President Donald Trump, aiming to make additional headway on a sustainable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a framework to conclude the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that room desired to endanger retaining the Americans engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that impressive and luxurious Paris meeting, and the prevailing atmosphere was profoundly strained.

Recall the events of the past week: the US administration's contentious involvement in the South American nation and the US president's assertion shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the size of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of Copenhagen.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was sitting across from two influential figures representing Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European allies to refrain from provoking the US over Greenland, in case that affects US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to separate the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of big EU countries at the Paris meeting issued a statement saying: "This territory is part of the alliance. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be attained together, in conjunction with treaty partners including the US".

"The decision is for Denmark and Greenland, and them alone, to determine on matters regarding the kingdom and Greenland," the communiqué added.

The communique was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the small set of supporters to the statement, it was unable to project a European Union in agreement in intent.

"If there had been a common statement from all 27 member states, plus alliance partner the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a resounding warning to America," commented a EU foreign policy analyst.

Reflect on the paradox at play at the Paris summit. Several EU government and other leaders, from NATO and the European Union, are trying to involve the White House in guaranteeing the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an outside force (Russia), immediately after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also persistently actively undermining the territorial integrity of a different EU member (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, extremely key friends. At least, they were.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to act upon his ambition to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an severe risk to NATO but also a major challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

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 not excluded a military seizure.

Recently that the landmass is "vitally important right now, Greenland is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of defense and Denmark is not going to be able to provide security".

Copenhagen contests that last statement. It has lately vowed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US has a defense installation already on Greenland – set up at the start of the Cold War. It has cut the figure of troops there from around 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized 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 island and more but faced with the US President's assertion of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts in Europe are doing just that.

"The current crisis has just underlined – yet again – the EU's basic shortcoming {