The officer in charge of a US Space Force base in Greenland, Col. Susannah Meyers, was removed from her command after sending a mass email distancing herself from statements made by Vice President JD Vance and the Trump administration during a visit last month. The Space Force announced that Meyers was removed for a loss of confidence in her ability to lead, as commanders are expected to remain nonpartisan in the performance of their duties. Meyers sent an email to her subordinates stating that the views discussed by Vance during his visit did not reflect the Pituffik Space Base.
Meyers, who took command of the 821st Space Base Group in July 2024, expressed concern in her email about the administration’s views discussed by Vance not reflecting Pituffik Space Base. She vowed to lead the base proudly and united under her command. Meyers, who transitioned from the Air Force to the Space Force in 2021, oversaw approximately 200 Airmen and Guardians at the northernmost military installation in the US. During Vance’s visit, there were discussions between Vance and Meyers about her upcoming retirement plans.
Vance’s visit to the Pituffik Space Base included conversations with Meyers about the base and its operations. The Vice President expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the servicemen and women stationed at the base and spoke about President Trump’s vision for an enhanced security footprint in the arctic. Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee commended Meyers’ removal, with several senators praising the actions taken by the Department of Defense in swiftly addressing the situation. Vance criticized Denmark for not investing enough in the security of Greenland, highlighting the need for an enhanced partnership between the US and Greenland.
President Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and did not rule out using military force to achieve that goal. However, Vance stated that Greenland’s residents would need to choose independence first before entering into partnership talks with the US. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen criticized the tone used by the Trump administration during Vance’s visit, emphasizing the importance of respectful dialogue between close allies. Rasmussen referenced the US-Denmark agreement of 1951, which allowed the US to build military bases in Greenland and highlighted the shared security responsibilities between the two countries as part of NATO.
The Pituffik Space Base was initially under the oversight of the Air Force and named the Thule Defense Area before being taken over by the Space Force in 2023. Meyers’ removal as the commanding officer of Pituffik was swift, reflecting the expectation of nonpartisan leadership within the Space Force. The incident highlighted tensions between the US, Denmark, and Greenland regarding security and partnership agreements in the arctic region. President Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland and Vance’s comments during his visit sparked a debate about sovereignty and security in the area. Overall, the situation underscored the complexities of international relations and national security interests in the region.
