Denmark Establishes Special Monitoring Operation to Observe President Trump After Arctic Row
Taking action inspired by fictional guards, the Danish foreign affairs department has created a night watch team—far from guarding against mythical foes, but to track Donald Trump as Denmark is asleep.
The night watch begins at 5pm local time daily and ends with a summary compiled at 7 a.m., which is then distributed across the Danish government and concerned offices detailing what was said and events taking place.
The role is believed to have been established following the bilateral dispute involving Copenhagen and Washington regarding Greenland earlier this year, when the US president suggested taking control of the strategic territory.
Analysts point out that this initiative is among several instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its government administration have had to adapt to the new reality of the Trump's current term.
An insider familiar with the foreign office stated, “It is fair to say that the circumstances in Greenland and the time zone gap between Denmark and the United States was quite an important factor prompting this arrangement during the spring.”
Instead of all staff having to immediately check their devices to catch up on updates from the US, the foreign office said it had undertaken a collective effort to remain informed on the president's actions.
An expert, a former chief analyst at the defense intelligence service, stated that this development showed, “as we have always known,” that the notion of the United States as Denmark's primary ally was no longer valid. “Partnerships are founded on common values and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo said. “The president lacks both of those with us and I would argue he lacks it with the majority of Europe.”