Denmark Establishes Nighttime Watch Operation to Track President Trump After Arctic Row
In a move reminiscent of TV series guards, Denmark's foreign ministry has created a nighttime monitoring unit—not to fend off mythical foes, but to track the US president as Denmark sleeps.
The night monitoring begins at 5 p.m. local time daily and ends with a report produced at 7 a.m., which is then circulated throughout government departments and concerned agencies detailing statements made and events taking place.
The role is understood to have been introduced following the bilateral row involving Copenhagen and the US regarding Greenland this spring, when the American leader threatened acquiring control of the resource-rich territory.
Observers point out that this measure is among several instances of how Danish diplomacy and its civil service have had to adjust to the changed landscape of the Trump's current term.
An insider familiar with the foreign office remarked, “It's accurate to say that the circumstances in the region and the time zone gap between Denmark and the US was a significant reason prompting this system during the spring.”
Instead of everybody having to immediately reach for their devices to catch up on news from the US, the ministry explained it had undertaken a coordinated approach to remain informed on Trump actions.
An expert, a ex- chief analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, 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showed, “as we have always known,” that the notion of the US as Denmark’s largest and most important ally was no longer valid.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 common values and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo added. “Trump lacks both of those with us and it can be said he doesn't share it with most Europeans.”