Taking action inspired by fictional guards, the Danish foreign affairs department has initiated a night watch unit—not guarding against mythical threats, but to track the US president as Denmark is asleep.
This night monitoring starts at 5 p.m. in Denmark each day and concludes with a report compiled at 7 a.m., which is then distributed throughout the Danish government and relevant agencies detailing statements made and developments that occurred.
This position is understood to have been established in the wake of the bilateral row between Copenhagen and Washington over the Arctic island this spring, when the US president threatened acquiring control of the resource-rich territory.
Analysts note that this measure is among several examples of how Danish diplomacy and its civil service have had to adapt to the changed landscape of the Trump's current term.
A source close to the foreign office remarked, “It's accurate to say that the situation in the region and the time difference separating Copenhagen and the United States were quite an important reason introducing this arrangement in the earlier months.”
Instead of everybody having to immediately check their phones to stay informed on updates from the US, the ministry explained it had undertaken a collective effort to remain informed on the president's activities.
Jacob Kaarsbo, a ex- chief analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, stated that this development demonstrated, “as we have always known,” that the idea of the US as Denmark’s primary partner was dead. “Partnerships are built on common values and a mutual view of threats,” he said. “Trump shares neither of those with us and it can be said he doesn't share it with most Europeans.”
