The Danish government Sets Up Special Watch System to Track President Trump After Arctic Dispute
In a move inspired by TV series watches, the Danish foreign ministry has initiated a night watch team—not to fend off fantasy threats, but to monitor Donald Trump while Copenhagen is asleep.
This night watch begins at 5 p.m. in Denmark daily and concludes with a report produced at 7 a.m., which is then circulated throughout the Danish government and concerned offices covering what was said and developments taking place.
The role is understood to have been established in the wake of the bilateral row between Copenhagen and the US over Greenland earlier this year, when the American leader suggested acquiring control of the resource-rich territory.
Analysts point out that this measure is among multiple instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its government administration have had to adapt to the new reality of the second Trump administration.
An insider familiar with the foreign office stated, “It is fair to say that the situation in Greenland and the time zone gap separating Copenhagen and the United States was quite an important reason prompting this arrangement in the earlier months.”
Rather than all staff having to promptly check their phones to catch up on updates from the US, the ministry said it had made a coordinated approach to remain informed on the president's activities.
An expert, a former senior analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, commented that this development demonstrated, “as long understood,” that the idea of the US as Denmark’s primary partner was no longer valid. “Alliances are founded on shared principles and a mutual view of threats,” he said. “The president lacks both of those with us and it can be said he doesn't share it with most Europeans.”