Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, is in a difficult situation as a result of US President Donald Trump's demands to annex Denmark's territory, Greenland.
His current approach is to try to change the topic while saying as little as possible. The former premier of the Netherlands has attempted to keep himself and NATO out of the conflict despite concerns that the issue could split the 76 year old military alliance.
Rather, Putin has attempted to sidestep Trump's wishes by persistently emphasising cooperative efforts to strengthen Arctic security, avoiding difficult questions, and even continuing to commend the US leader.
That strategy hasn't always been favourably received. Rutte was constantly put on the spot during this week's meeting with members of the European Parliament.
"Allow me to address you as the guy who's looking after all of us," an irate politician from Denmark named Stine Bosse remarked.
"Please give us an indication of what this alliance can do if two countries within the alliance cannot agree?" But Rutte was undeterred.
"My role as secretary general, I'm very clear I never ever comment when there are discussions within the alliance," he continued. "You work behind the scenes."
The head of the alliance maintained that his focus was only on ensuring that NATO was protecting the Arctic, which is a crucial component of Trump's argument for wanting Greenland.
"I believe there is a bigger issue at stake here, and that is the defence of the high north, the defence of the Arctic area," Rutte stated.
Then he went even farther and reiterated his claim that by pressuring countries to increase defense spending, Trump had really strengthened NATO. "I know you will all hate me now saying this, but this is what I believe," he stated.
Rutte's sangfroid is a major factor in his employment. He has been dubbed a "Trump whisperer" and is one of the few European leaders who have managed to gain the trust of the erratic US president.
At NATO's summit this summer, the cunning political strategist turned the goodwill into a huge victory by negotiating a historic spending agreement that satisfied Trump.
Rutte's low key strategy is widely understood among officials at the alliance's headquarters. According to Jamie Shea, a former senior NATO official who is currently employed by the research tank Chatham House, "it's difficult for Rutte to take the lead here as he has to keep the alliance together and keep the Americans onboard." "He can't take the European side against Washington."
While other European leaders, such as Mette Frederiksen of Denmark and Emmanuel Macron of France, have been more vocal, the tangible actions taken thus far have concentrated on strengthening NATO's presence in Greenland and the Arctic.
As a potential prelude to a larger NATO deployment, Copenhagen has sent additional troops to the island, and other European nations have also contributed forces.
According to Shea, Rutte must work out the specifics of a hypothetical NATO operation in the Arctic and persuade Trump to accept it as a viable component of the solution. "He needs to work behind the scenes quickly but quietly to sell the idea to the US," Shea stated.
As Europe struggles with Trump's attempt to put an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, the controversy surrounding Greenland occurs at a sensitive moment.
Washington appears to have finally moved closer to Kyiv's position after months of prodding, but any advancement is tenuous.
In the meantime, NATO is planning a potentially explosive summit with Trump in Turkey this summer, where allies will need to demonstrate to him that they are fulfilling their commitment to increase spending.
A senior NATO diplomat told AFP, "Rutte knows that if he fails now he could get burned and lose his capital with Trump." "He wanted to save his silver bullet for Ukraine, but maybe now will have to try to manufacture another one for Greenland."
However, the NATO chief might be forced to take more drastic action if Trump ultimately follows through on his threats against Greenland, possibly even using force.
"Rutte still has a responsibility, which is to decide when he thinks it is most appropriate to chip in," another former senior NATO official, Camille Grand, stated.
He claims he is now staying out of member state disputes. That might work for the time being, but eventually he runs the risk of getting sucked into it. The man himself seems unfazed.
He said, "I'm thoroughly enjoying the role and the job," to a question from an EU politician about if he was afraid of being the final secretary general of NATO. "I was not planning to quit already, but I'm sure there will be a successor someday" .
