Denmark Establishes Nighttime Monitoring Operation to Track President Trump After Greenland Row
In a move reminiscent of fictional watches, Denmark's foreign ministry has created a night watch team—far from guarding against mythical threats, but to monitor the US president while Denmark is asleep.
The night monitoring starts at 5pm in Denmark each day and ends with a report compiled at 7 a.m., which is then circulated throughout the Danish government and relevant offices detailing statements made and events that occurred.
This position is believed to have been established following the bilateral dispute between Copenhagen and Washington regarding Greenland this spring, when the US president suggested taking control of the resource-rich territory.
Observers note that this initiative is one of multiple instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its government administration have had to adjust to the changed landscape of the Trump's current term.
An insider familiar with the ministry remarked, “It's accurate to say that the situation in Greenland and the time zone gap between Denmark and the United States were quite an important factor prompting this arrangement during the earlier months.”
Instead of all staff needing to promptly reach for their devices to stay informed on updates from the US, the ministry said it had undertaken a coordinated approach to remain informed on the president's actions.
An expert, a ex- senior analyst at the defense intelligence service, commented that this development demonstrated, “as long understood,” that the idea of the US as Denmark’s largest and most important ally was dead. “Alliances are founded on shared principles and a mutual view of threats,” Kaarsbo added. “The president lacks both of those with Denmark and I would argue he doesn't share it with the majority of Europe.”
