The Danish government Sets Up Nighttime Watch System to Track Trump After Greenland Row
In a move reminiscent of fictional guards, the Danish foreign ministry has created a nighttime monitoring team—far from to fend off mythical foes, but to track Donald Trump while Denmark is asleep.
The night watch begins at 5pm local time daily and ends with a report compiled at 7am, which is then distributed across the Danish government and concerned agencies covering statements made and developments taking place.
The role is believed to have been introduced in the wake of the bilateral dispute between Copenhagen and the US over Greenland earlier this year, when the US president threatened acquiring control of the strategic island.
Analysts point out that this measure is one of several examples of how Danish diplomacy and its government administration have had to adapt to the changed landscape of the second Trump administration.
A source close to the foreign office remarked, “It's accurate to say that the circumstances in the region and the time difference between Copenhagen and the United States were a significant factor prompting this arrangement in the earlier months.”
Instead of all staff having to immediately reach for their devices to catch up on news from the United States, the foreign office said it had made a collective effort to remain informed on the president's actions.
An expert, a former chief analyst at the defense intelligence service, stated that this move demonstrated, “as we have always known,” that the idea of the US as Denmark's primary partner was dead. “Partnerships are built on common values and a mutual view of threats,” Kaarsbo added. “Trump lacks both of those with us and I would argue he lacks it with the majority of Europe.”
