Col. Susannah Meyers, commander of the U.S. Pituffik base in Greenland, was removed by the U.S. military. The Space Force cited actions undermining the chain of command and President Trump's agenda as the reason. This followed Vice President JD Vance's visit to the base, where he criticized Denmark's commitment to the base's security.
Col. Meyers sent an email to base staff distancing herself from Vance's criticism, stating that his views didn't represent the base leadership. This email was confirmed as authentic by the Space Force, as reported by Military.com.
Vance's visit was part of President Trump's effort to secure Greenland for national security reasons. His criticism of Denmark prompted a rebuke from Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Pituffik base houses U.S. military personnel, and civilian contractors from Greenland, Denmark, and Canada. Col. Meyers had been the commander since last July. The Department of Defense and the Space Force did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The U.S. military announced on Thursday that it had removed the commander of its Pituffik base in Greenland, adding that it would not tolerate any actions that go against President Trump’s agenda.
The decision to remove Col. Susannah Meyers was announced in a statement by the U.S. Space Force that was posted on social media by Sean Parnell, the chief spokesman for the Pentagon.
While the statement didn’t cite a specific reason for her removal, Mr. Parnell said that “actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated.”
Mr. Parnell’s post contained a link to an article by Military.com, an independent news organization, that said Colonel Meyers had sent an email to base staff distancing herself from Vice President JD Vance’s visit on March 28.
Mr. Vance visited the base as part of Mr. Trump’s push to take over Greenland, an island that is a semiautonomous part of Denmark, for national security reasons.
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the Space Force said in the statement.
Mr. Vance criticized Denmark during his remarks to the staff at Pituffik, accusing the country of not spending enough to keep the area safe. “This is not how you speak to your close allies,” Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister, responded.
On March 31, Colonel Meyers emailed the staff at Pituffik saying that the concerns of the Trump administration as expressed by Mr. Vance did not reflect the views of the base leadership, according to excerpts published by Military.com.
The website said the Space Force had confirmed that the message from Colonel Meyers was authentic. The Department of Defense and the Space Force did not respond to requests for comment made outside business hours.
In addition to U.S. military personnel, civilian contractors from Greenland, Denmark and Canada also live and work at Pituffik (pronounced bee-doo-FEEK).
Colonel Meyers became the commander of the 821st Space Base Group, which runs Pituffik, last July.
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