🔗 Share this article

In a move inspired by TV series guards, the Danish foreign affairs department has created a nighttime monitoring team—far from guarding against fantasy threats, but to track the US president as Denmark sleeps.

This night monitoring starts at 5 p.m. local time each day and ends with a report produced at 7am, which is then distributed throughout the Danish government and concerned offices detailing what was said and events that occurred.

The role is believed to have been introduced in the wake of the diplomatic row involving Denmark and the US over the Arctic island this spring, when the American leader threatened acquiring control of the resource-rich island.

Analysts point out that this initiative is one of multiple instances of how Denmark's foreign policy and its civil service have had to adapt to the new reality of the second Trump administration.

An insider familiar with the ministry remarked, “It is fair to say that the circumstances in the region and the time difference separating Denmark and the United States was a significant reason introducing this system during the earlier months.”

Instead of all staff needing to immediately reach for their devices to catch up on news from the United States, the foreign office explained it had undertaken a collective effort to remain informed on the president's actions.

Jacob Kaarsbo, a ex- senior analyst at the Danish defence intelligence agency, commented that this move demonstrated, “as we have always known,” that the idea of the US as Denmark’s largest and most important partner was no longer valid. “Partnerships are built on common values and a mutual view of threats,” he said. “Trump shares neither of those with Denmark and I would argue he doesn't share it with the majority of Europe.”