US chief of Greenland military base fired following JD Vance’s trip
The head of the US military base in Greenland has been dismissed for condemning Washington’s plans for the Arctic territory in the aftermath of JD Vance’s visit a fortnight ago, The Guardian reported on April 11.
Col Susannah Meyers, the commander of the Pituffik space base was fired after she pushed back against the vice president’s comments in an email she sent to the space base.
The news site, Military.com, reported on April 10th said Meyers wrote in an email “I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
The US vice-president, Vance, denounced Denmark and its administration of the territory. Greenland is semi-autonomous and remains a part of the kingdom of Denmark, its former colonial power. The country’s foreign and defence policies are still administered by Denmark.
Donald Trump has vowed multiple times to take over the island and hasn’t turned down the option of using military or economic force.
The US Space Force released a statement on the night of April 10th which said Meyers had been dismissed as a result of a “loss of confidence” in her ability to lead. “Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” It said.
Vance’s trip to the base on March 28th, was a significantly altered due to an increasingly sour turn between the US, Greenland and Denmark’s relationship.
During a press conference at the base, the vice-president said “Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.”
He said to troops at the base that the US wanted to acquire the territory to counter the danger of China and Russia. The trip had initially been arranged to be ushered by the second lady, Vance’s wife, Usha Vance.
However, the plans were altered after there was anger over the timing of the trip after the election, with the latest coalition government not yet installed.
The Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted on X: “Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defence.”
Meyer joins the list of countless purged high-ranking military officers and commanders by the Trump administration. Colonel Shawn Lee has replaced Meyers’ role, the Space Operations Command said in a press release.
Trump has claimed the US needs Greenland as its territory for national and international security. The Danish defence department turned down an opportunity to comment.
Military.com, The Guardian, Space Operations Command (SpOC)
