Those Difficult Issues for NATO and the EU as Trump Makes Threats About Greenland

Just this morning, a self-styled Group of the Determined, largely consisting of European officials, convened in Paris with delegates of the Trump administration, aiming to secure more advances on a durable settlement for Ukraine.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to halt the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that meeting wished to jeopardise keeping the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that opulent and sparkling summit, and the prevailing atmosphere was extremely uneasy.

Bear in mind the developments of the recent days: the Trump administration's contentious incursion in the South American nation and the US president's assertion soon after, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of defense".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an autonomous possession of Denmark's.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was seated across from two powerful personalities representing Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European colleagues to avoid alienating the US over the Arctic question, in case that affects US support for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have much rather to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine distinct. But with the tensions mounting from the White House and Copenhagen, representatives of leading states at the talks released a declaration stating: "This territory is part of the alliance. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be secured jointly, in cooperation with NATO allies like the United States".

"The decision is for Denmark and Greenland, and them alone, to decide on affairs related to the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the communiqué further stated.

The announcement was welcomed by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was slow to be formulated and, due to the small group of endorsers to the statement, it failed to show a European Union in agreement in intent.

"If there had been a unified position from all 27 European Union countries, plus NATO ally the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's control, that would have conveyed a powerful signal to America," stated a European defense expert.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the European gathering. Multiple EU national and other officials, such as NATO and the EU, are attempting to involve the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the aggressive geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to publicly challenging the autonomy of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both participants of the military bloc NATO. They are, as stated by Danish officials, exceptionally strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump act upon his goal to acquire Greenland, would it mark not just an existential threat to NATO but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his resolve to acquire Greenland. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

Recently that the island is "crucially located right now, it is patrolled by foreign ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to handle it".

Denmark refutes that claim. It has lately committed to allocate $4bn in the island's defense for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US maintains a military base currently on Greenland – established at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has cut the number of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting the northern theater, recently.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a bigger US role on the territory and further cooperation but faced with the US President's warning of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts across Europe are heeding that warning.

"The current crisis has just underlined – for the umpteenth time – Europe's basic vulnerability {