The US military's Space Operations Command has officially removed Colonel Susannah Meyers from her position at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, following an email in which she distanced herself from Vice-President JD Vance's critical remarks regarding Denmark's military support for the region. Her dismissal has generated significant discussion about the relationship between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
Vance's remarks on a recent trip to Greenland accused Denmark of failing to adequately support the security needs of Greenlanders, stating that the country "has not done a good job." In response, Colonel Meyers reportedly communicated to staff that Vance's opinions did not accurately represent the base's stance, leading to her dismissal due to a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
The Pentagon reinforced that commanders must maintain nonpartisan conduct and support the chain of command, with chief spokesperson Sean Parnell explicitly condemning actions that undermine the President's agenda. Meyers has been replaced by Col Shawn Lee.
Vance's visit coincided with sentiments echoing former President Donald Trump's previous ambitions to annex Greenland, a proposal met with strong opposition from both Greenland and Denmark. Following the US delegation's visit, both countries have emphasized their commitment to sovereignty and independence, with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen publicly rebuffing any notion of annexation, affirming that "you can't annex other countries."
Greenland has been under Danish control for nearly 300 years, and public sentiment within Greenland increasingly favors independence rather than integration into the United States. The territory has the right to pursue an independence referendum since 2009, with recent political movements advocating for its execution.
