Denmark Establishes Nighttime Watch System to Observe Trump Following Arctic Dispute
Taking action reminiscent of fictional watches, the Danish foreign ministry has initiated a nighttime monitoring team—not guarding against mythical threats, but to monitor Donald Trump as Copenhagen is asleep.
This night monitoring starts at 5 p.m. local time daily and concludes with a report produced at 7 a.m., which is then circulated across the Danish government and relevant offices detailing statements made and events taking place.
This position is understood to have been introduced in the wake of the bilateral dispute involving Denmark and the US over Greenland this spring, when the American leader suggested acquiring control of the resource-rich island.
Analysts point out that this measure is among multiple instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its civil service have had to adapt to the changed landscape of the Trump's current term.
An insider close to the ministry stated, “It is fair to say that the situation in the region and the time difference separating Denmark and the United States were quite an important factor prompting this arrangement in the earlier months.”
Rather than everybody needing to immediately check their devices to catch up on news from the US, the foreign office said it had undertaken a coordinated approach to remain informed on Trump activities.
An expert, a former senior analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, stated that this move demonstrated, “as we have always known,” that the idea of the United States as Denmark's largest and most important partner was no longer valid. “Partnerships are built on shared principles and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo added. “Trump shares neither of those with Denmark and I would argue he lacks it with the majority of Europe.”