Denmark Establishes Special Watch System to Track Trump After Greenland Row
Taking action reminiscent of TV series watches, Denmark's foreign affairs department has initiated a nighttime monitoring unit—not to fend off fantasy foes, but to monitor the US president while Copenhagen is asleep.
The night monitoring starts at 5 p.m. local time each day and concludes with a summary compiled at 7 a.m., which is then distributed across government departments and relevant agencies covering statements made and events that occurred.
The role is understood to have been introduced in the wake of the diplomatic dispute involving Denmark and Washington over Greenland this spring, when the US president suggested taking control of the strategic territory.
Observers note that this measure is one of multiple instances of how Danish diplomacy and its government administration have had to adapt to the changed landscape of the Trump's current term.
An insider close to the foreign office stated, “It is fair to say that the situation in Greenland and the time zone gap separating Copenhagen and the US were a significant reason introducing this arrangement in the spring.”
Instead of everybody needing to promptly check their phones to catch up on news from the US, the foreign office explained it had made a collective effort to remain informed on the president's activities.
An expert, a former chief analyst at the defense intelligence service, commented that this development showed, “as we have always known,” that the notion of the US as Denmark’s largest and most important ally was no longer valid. “Partnerships are founded on shared principles and a common threat perception,” he said. “Trump shares neither of those with Denmark and I would argue he lacks it with most Europeans.”
