🔗 Share this article

Taking action reminiscent of fictional watches, Denmark's foreign affairs department has initiated a nighttime monitoring unit—far from guarding against fantasy foes, but to monitor Donald Trump while Denmark is asleep.

This night watch starts at 5 p.m. local time daily and ends with a report compiled at 7 a.m., which is then circulated across government departments and relevant agencies covering statements made and developments taking place.

This position is understood to have been established in the wake of the bilateral row between Denmark and the US regarding the Arctic island this spring, when the US president suggested taking control of the strategic island.

Observers point out that this initiative is one of multiple instances of how Danish diplomacy and its government administration have had to adapt to the new reality of the second Trump administration.

An insider close to the foreign office remarked, “It's accurate to say that the circumstances in Greenland and the time difference separating Denmark and the US was a significant reason introducing this arrangement during the earlier months.”

Instead of everybody having to immediately check their devices to catch up on updates from the United States, the foreign office 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 demonstrated, “as long understood,” that the notion of the US as Denmark's primary ally was dead. “Alliances are founded on common values and a common threat perception,” he added. “The president shares neither of those with us and it can be said he lacks it with most Europeans.”