The Danish government Establishes Nighttime Watch System to Track President Trump After Arctic Row
Taking action inspired by fictional watches, Denmark's foreign ministry has created a nighttime monitoring unit—not guarding against fantasy threats, but to monitor the US president as Copenhagen is asleep.
This night monitoring starts at 5 p.m. in Denmark daily and concludes with a report compiled at 7am, which is then distributed throughout the Danish government and concerned agencies detailing what was said and events taking place.
The role is understood to have been introduced following the diplomatic row involving Copenhagen and the US over Greenland this spring, when the US president suggested taking control of the strategic island.
Analysts point out that this measure is among several 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's accurate to say that the circumstances in the region and the time difference separating Denmark and the US were a significant factor prompting this system in the earlier months.”
Instead of all staff needing to promptly check their phones to catch up on updates from the United States, the foreign office explained it had undertaken a coordinated approach to stay updated on the president's activities.
An expert, a ex- senior analyst at the defense intelligence service, stated that this development showed, “as long understood,” that the notion of the US as Denmark’s primary partner was no longer valid. “Alliances are built on shared principles and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo said. “The president lacks both of those with us and I would argue he doesn't share it with the majority of Europe.”
