Taking action inspired by TV series watches, Denmark's foreign ministry has created a nighttime monitoring unit—not to fend off mythical foes, but to monitor Donald Trump while Denmark is asleep.
This night monitoring starts at 5pm in Denmark daily and concludes with a report compiled at 7 a.m., which is then circulated across the Danish government and relevant offices detailing what was said and developments taking place.
This position is understood to have been introduced following the diplomatic dispute involving Copenhagen and the US over the Arctic island this spring, when the American leader suggested acquiring control of the resource-rich island.
Analysts point out that this initiative is among multiple examples of how Denmark's foreign policy and its civil service have had to adjust to the changed landscape of the second Trump administration.
An insider familiar with the foreign office remarked, “It's accurate to say that the circumstances in Greenland and the time zone gap separating Denmark and the United States was a significant factor prompting this system in the earlier months.”
Instead of all staff having to promptly reach for their phones to catch up on updates from the US, the ministry said it had undertaken a collective effort to remain informed on the president's actions.
An expert, a ex- senior analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, stated that this move showed, “as we have always known,” that the notion of the United States as Denmark’s primary partner was no longer valid. “Alliances are built on common values and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo added. “Trump shares neither of those with Denmark and I would argue he doesn't share it with most Europeans.”
