Denmark has set up a “night watch” system to monitor US President Donald Trump’s remarks about Greenland, as reported on November 27 by Danish newspaper Politiken. Denmark’s foreign ministry now staffs overnight shifts from 5 pm to 7 am, ensuring immediate response to any mention of the Arctic territory.
The move reflects Copenhagen’s unease after Trump suggested military or economic coercion to gain control of Greenland—a mineral‑rich island at the center of US, Russian, and Chinese competition. Though Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has reiterated that “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders,” the alert system reinforces diplomatic vigilance given Trump’s unpredictable rhetoric.
Experts say Trump’s approach has shifted from threats to persuasion, appealing directly to Greenlanders with promises of economic opportunity. Rasmus Sinding Søndergaard of the Danish Institute for International Studies told Newsweek that while the urgency has eased since early “red alert” months, Denmark remains wary of Trump’s ambitions.
In December, senior representatives from the US, Denmark, and Greenland are scheduled to meet in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, in the first formal three-party talks since Trump’s demands reignited debate over the island’s future.
As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, Greenland’s ice sheet may conceal reserves fueling geopolitical tension. Check out this gallery to see what lies beneath the ice—and why Trump once said he “needs it very badly.”