The Danish government Sets Up Special Watch Operation to Track Trump After Greenland Dispute
Taking action reminiscent of TV series watches, the Danish foreign ministry has initiated a nighttime monitoring team—not guarding against fantasy threats, but to monitor the US president while Copenhagen sleeps.
The night monitoring begins at 5pm local time daily and concludes with a report compiled at 7am, which is then circulated across the Danish government and relevant offices covering what was said and developments taking place.
This position is understood to have been established in the wake of the diplomatic row between Copenhagen and Washington over Greenland earlier this year, when the American leader threatened acquiring control of the strategic island.
Observers point out that this initiative is among several examples of how Denmark's foreign policy and its civil service have had to adjust to the changed landscape of the Trump's current term.
A source close to the foreign office remarked, “It is fair to say that the situation in the region and the time zone gap between Copenhagen and the United States was a significant reason introducing this arrangement during the spring.”
Rather than all staff having to immediately reach for their phones to stay informed on news from the United States, the foreign office said it had undertaken a collective effort to stay updated on Trump actions.
An expert, a former senior analyst at the defense intelligence service, stated that this move demonstrated, “as long understood,” that the notion of the US as Denmark’s largest and most important partner was no longer valid. “Alliances are built on shared principles and a common threat perception,” he said. “The president shares neither of those with us and it can be said he doesn't share it with the majority of Europe.”