Colonel Susan Meyers was relieved of her duties at the U.S. Space Force’s Pituffik base amid controversy surrounding a recent visit by Vice President JD Vance, which prompted concerns regarding political partisanship within the military.
U.S. Military Dismisses Greenland Base Commander Amid Political Controversy
U.S. Military Dismisses Greenland Base Commander Amid Political Controversy
Military officials emphasize a commitment to adhering to presidential agendas following colonel's removal.
The U.S. military has announced the dismissal of Col. Susan Meyers from her position as commander of the Pituffik base in Greenland, a decision highlighting the military's commitment to support President Trump’s agenda. The announcement came as a statement from the U.S. Space Force spokesperson Sean Parnell, noting that no actions undermining the chain of command would be tolerated.
While the detailed reasoning for Colonel Meyers' removal was not provided, Parnell's statement referenced concerns regarding political neutrality. It mentioned that any attempts to subvert President Trump's directives would be unacceptable. This stance follows an incident involving Colonel Meyers distancing herself from comments made by Vice President JD Vance during a March 28 visit to the base, where Vance criticized Denmark's military contributions, calling them inadequate for the area's security needs.
Colonel Meyers was quoted in an email to base personnel, expressing that her views—and those of the base leadership—did not align with the Trump administration's hostility toward Denmark. This email was later confirmed authentic by the Space Force and published by Military.com, an independent news organization. The Department of Defense and the Space Force did not respond to requests for additional comment outside normal business hours.
The dismissal raises questions about the politicization of military leadership, particularly in light of Vance's remarks which drew criticism from Danish officials. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark's foreign minister, rebuffed Vance's statements, highlighting the importance of close diplomatic relations.
Meyers has been in command of the 821st Space Base Group at Pituffik since last July, a facility that plays a crucial role in U.S. military operations and houses military personnel along with civilian contractors from Greenland, Denmark, and Canada.
