The Uncomfortable Issues for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the EU as Trump Makes Threats About the Arctic Island

Just this morning, a self-styled Alliance of the Determined, mostly consisting of European leaders, gathered in Paris with delegates of President Trump, aiming to secure more progress on a sustainable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to halt the hostilities with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that room wanted to jeopardise keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that impressive and sparkling gathering, and the underlying mood was extremely tense.

Recall the events of the last few days: the US administration's contentious 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".

Greenland is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is situated in the far north but is an semi-independent possession of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was positioned opposite two influential figures acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European counterparts to refrain from alienating the US over Greenland, lest that undermines US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have greatly desired to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from the White House and Denmark, leaders of leading states at the Paris meeting put out a statement saying: "This territory is part of NATO. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be attained together, in cooperation with treaty partners like the United States".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to determine on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué continued.

The announcement was greeted by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was tardy to be put together and, because of the restricted number of supporters to the declaration, it did not manage to show a European Union in agreement in intent.

"Were there a common position from all 27 EU partners, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in backing of Danish control, that would have conveyed a strong warning to Washington," stated a EU foreign policy specialist.

Reflect on the irony at work at the Paris summit. Multiple European government and other officials, including the alliance and the EU, are attempting to involve the Trump administration in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the expansionist territorial ambitions of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also still publicly threatening the autonomy of a further EU member (Denmark).

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

The question is, were Trump to act upon his goal to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is not the first time President Trump has spoken of his intention to dominate the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

On Sunday that the landmass is "vitally important right now, Greenland is covered with foreign vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Copenhagen is unable to do it".

Denmark strongly denies that last statement. It not long ago pledged to invest $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US maintains a military base presently on the island – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the figure of staff there from approximately 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting the northern theater, until now.

Denmark has indicated it is open to discussion about a expanded US footprint on the island and additional measures but faced with the US President's assertion of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders throughout Europe are doing just that.

"This whole situation has just underlined – once again – Europe's core weakness {