Denmark has reportedly installed a special guard to monitor the US president’s remarks after he signaled plans to take over Greenland
Denmark has reportedly established a special “night watch” to monitor US President Donald Trump’s statements after he insisted earlier this year that Greenland, an autonomous territory within the kingdom, should be brought under US control.
Trump first floated buying the island in 2019, a proposal quickly rejected by Denmark and Greenland’s government. Since returning to office, he has revived the idea, calling Greenland vital to national security and refusing to rule out military force to secure American control.
Copenhagen, which views the renewed pressure as a direct threat to its sovereignty, has responded by strengthening its Arctic defense and expanding military and civil monitoring in Greenland.
According to a report by Politiken on Wednesday, the Danish Foreign Ministry has taken another step by introducing a guard who monitors Trump’s statements each night to stay on top of his remarks despite the six-hour time difference between Washington and Copenhagen.
The guard’s shift begins at 5pm local time and ends at 7am the next morning, by which time a report on Trump’s statements must be produced and circulated across the Danish government. The guard is reportedly tasked with tracking Trump’s rhetoric on Denmark and Greenland specifically.
Sources told the outlet that the role was created to ease pressure on officials, so they no longer need to “reach immediately for their phones” when Trump makes announcements, with the night watch keeping the government updated.
The night watch is reportedly only one of several adjustments the Danish authorities have made during Trump’s second term: Staffing for public diplomacy at the Danish Embassy in Washington has been doubled, and the Greenlandic Representation in the same building has been reinforced, among other changes, the newspaper reported.
Jacob Kaarsbo, a former chief analyst at the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, said the situation shows that the belief the US is Denmark’s trusted ally is no longer valid.
“Alliances are built on common values and a common threat perception,” Kaarsbo stated. “Trump shares neither of those with us.”
