US Fires Greenland Base Commander After Comments Seen as Undermining Vice President Vance

The commander of the United States’ only military base in Greenland has been dismissed after reportedly distancing her team from Vice-President JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark—a move the Pentagon viewed as "undermining" national leadership.

Colonel Susannah Meyers, who led the strategically located Pituffik Space Base in the Arctic, was relieved of duty by the U.S. Space Operations Command due to a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead,” according to an official statement released Thursday. Col. Shawn Lee has been named as her replacement.

The controversy stems from a private email allegedly sent by Col. Meyers to base personnel in which she responded to Vice-President Vance’s remarks during a recent visit to Greenland. Vance had accused Denmark of neglecting its security responsibilities in the Arctic and of failing the people of Greenland.

In the email—obtained and verified by Military.com—Col. Meyers appeared to rebuke those comments, writing:

“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by Vice-President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”

While the Pentagon has not explicitly confirmed this message as the reason for her dismissal, chief spokesman Sean Parnell shared the article on social media, commenting: “Actions that undermine the chain of command or subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”

The Space Force emphasized the importance of political neutrality in its leadership roles, stating:

"Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties."

Col. Meyers had assumed command of the Arctic installation in July 2024. Her removal comes at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Danish relations, following Vance’s controversial visit to Greenland on March 31, where he reiterated former President Donald Trump’s 2019 suggestion that the U.S. should consider acquiring Greenland for strategic defense purposes.

That proposal has been firmly rejected by both Greenlandic and Danish officials. During a joint press conference earlier this month, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen rebuked the idea, reaffirming their commitment to Greenland’s autonomy.

“You can’t annex other countries,” Frederiksen said pointedly, adding that Denmark was strengthening its Arctic military presence and welcomed deeper defense collaboration with the U.S.—but not at the cost of sovereignty.

Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, plays a critical role in missile detection, satellite tracking, and Arctic defense. The controversy over its leadership highlights the delicate balance between military discipline, political rhetoric, and international diplomacy in a region of growing geopolitical importance.