The Danish government Sets Up Nighttime Watch System to Observe President Trump Following Greenland Row
Taking action inspired by fictional watches, Denmark's foreign ministry has initiated a nighttime monitoring unit—not to fend off fantasy threats, but to monitor Donald Trump while Copenhagen is asleep.
The night monitoring starts at 5pm in Denmark daily and ends with a report produced at 7 a.m., which is then distributed across government departments and relevant offices detailing statements made and events that occurred.
The role is understood to have been introduced in the wake of the diplomatic row involving Copenhagen and the US over Greenland earlier this year, when the US president threatened taking control of the strategic territory.
Observers point out that this measure is one of several instances of how Danish diplomacy and its civil service have had to adapt to the new reality of the second Trump administration.
An insider familiar with the ministry remarked, “It's accurate to say that the situation in Greenland and the time difference between Denmark and the US were a significant reason introducing this system during the spring.”
Instead of all staff having to immediately check their devices to catch up on updates from the US, the foreign office explained it had undertaken a collective effort to remain informed on the president's actions.
Jacob Kaarsbo, a former chief analyst at the defense intelligence service, stated that this move showed, “as long understood,” that the idea of the US as Denmark's primary ally was dead. “Alliances are built on common values and a mutual view of threats,” Kaarsbo said. “The president lacks both of those with Denmark and I would argue he doesn't share it with the majority of Europe.”
