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 informal Group of the Willing, mostly made up of EU leaders, convened in Paris with envoys of President Trump, aiming to secure additional advances on a durable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to halt the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that room wanted to risk keeping the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that impressive and glittering gathering, and the fundamental atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

Bear in mind the events of the recent days: the Trump administration's contentious incursion in the South American nation and the American leader's assertion following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned across from two powerful individuals acting for Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU counterparts to refrain from alienating the US over Greenland, lest that undermines US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to separate the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the political temperature mounting from the White House and Denmark, representatives of major EU countries at the gathering put out a communiqué saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved jointly, in cooperation with alliance members like the United States".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to decide on issues concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The announcement was received positively by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the small number of signatories to the statement, it did not manage to demonstrate a European Union united in objective.

"Were there a common declaration from all 27 EU partners, plus NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have delivered a resounding message to America," commented a EU defense specialist.

Consider the contradiction at hand at the France meeting. Multiple EU national and other leaders, such as NATO and the EU, are seeking to involve the White House in protecting the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, arresting its head of state, while also still publicly threatening the autonomy of another EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, according to Danish officials, extremely key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to make good on his goal to assert control over the island, would it represent not just an existential threat to NATO but also a profound problem for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident Trump has spoken of his intention to control the Arctic island. He's proposed buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of taking it by force.

He insisted that the island is "so strategic right now, it is covered with foreign ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the vantage point of national security and Copenhagen is not going to be able to provide security".

Copenhagen contests that last statement. It recently vowed to spend $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US has a defense installation presently on Greenland – established at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of personnel there from around 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off polar defense, until now.

Denmark has suggested it is willing to talk about a bigger US presence on the island and additional measures but in light of the US President's warning of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

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

"This whole situation has just highlighted – once again – the EU's fundamental weakness {