Denmark Establishes Nighttime Monitoring Operation to Track Trump Following Greenland Row
Taking action inspired by fictional watches, Denmark's foreign affairs department has created a nighttime monitoring team—not to fend off mythical threats, but to monitor the US president while Copenhagen sleeps.
The night watch begins at 5 p.m. local time each day and ends with a summary produced at 7am, which is then circulated across government departments and relevant agencies detailing what was said and developments that occurred.
This position is believed to have been introduced in the wake of the diplomatic dispute between Denmark and Washington over the Arctic island earlier this year, when the US president suggested acquiring control of the resource-rich island.
Observers point out that this initiative is among multiple instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its government administration have had to adjust to the new reality of the Trump's current term.
An insider close to the ministry remarked, “It is fair to say that the circumstances in Greenland and the time difference separating Copenhagen and the United States were a significant factor introducing this system in the spring.”
Instead of all staff having to immediately reach for their devices to catch up on updates from the US, the foreign office said it had undertaken a collective effort to stay updated on the president's activities.
Jacob Kaarsbo, a ex- chief analyst at the defense intelligence service, commented that this move showed, “as long understood,” that the notion of the US as Denmark's largest and most important partner was dead. “Partnerships are built on common values and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo added. “Trump shares neither of those with Denmark and it can be said he lacks it with most Europeans.”
