Denmark Establishes Special Watch Operation to Track Trump Following Greenland Dispute
In a move inspired by TV series watches, the Danish foreign ministry has initiated a nighttime monitoring team—not to fend off fantasy threats, but to track Donald Trump as Denmark is asleep.
The night monitoring begins at 5 p.m. in Denmark each day and concludes with a summary compiled at 7am, which is then distributed across government departments and concerned offices covering statements made and events taking place.
The role is understood to have been established following the diplomatic row between Copenhagen and the US regarding the Arctic island this spring, when the American leader threatened taking control of the strategic territory.
Analysts point out that this measure is one of several instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its civil service have had to adapt to the new reality of the second Trump administration.
A source familiar with the foreign office stated, “It is fair to say that the situation in the region and the time zone gap separating Denmark and the US was quite an important reason introducing this arrangement in the spring.”
Rather than everybody needing to promptly reach for their phones to stay informed on news from the United States, the ministry said it had made a coordinated approach to remain informed on the president's actions.
Jacob Kaarsbo, a former chief analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, stated 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showed, “as we have always known,” that the notion of the US as Denmark’s largest and most important ally was no longer valid. “Alliances are built on shared principles and a common threat perception,” he said. “The president lacks both of those with Denmark and I would argue he lacks it with the majority of Europe.”
