US Base Commander in Greenland Dismissed Following JD Vance Visit and Comments on Denmark

The commander of the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, Colonel Susannah Meyers, has been officially relieved of duty following her response to Vice President JD Vance’s controversial comments about Denmark’s governance of Greenland during a recent visit to the Arctic installation.

The U.S. Space Force confirmed the dismissal late Thursday, citing a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead” as the primary reason for the decision. The statement emphasized the importance of impartiality among military leaders, particularly during politically sensitive moments.

Tensions Escalate Over Greenland’s Future Amid US-Denmark Friction

During his visit to Pituffik Space Base on March 28, Vice President Vance sharply criticized Denmark’s oversight of Greenland, accusing Copenhagen of underinvestment in both the territory’s population and regional security infrastructure.

“Denmark has neglected the people of Greenland and failed to secure this critical region,” Vance said during a press briefing at the base.

Greenland, although self-governing in most domestic affairs, remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Defense and foreign affairs remain under Danish control—a longstanding point of contention between Washington and Copenhagen, especially during Donald Trump’s presidencies, which have featured repeated interest in acquiring Greenland.

Email From Base Commander Sparks Repercussions

Following Vance’s remarks, Col. Meyers reportedly circulated a base-wide email on March 31, expressing disapproval of politicizing military operations and emphasizing unity among the American, Danish, Canadian, and Greenlandic personnel stationed at the base.

“While I do not claim to fully understand the current political dynamics,” she allegedly wrote, “the views shared by Vice President Vance do not represent the mission or principles of Pituffik Space Base.”

The email was seen by some as an attempt to reassure international personnel amid heightened political rhetoric—but it also triggered concern within the Pentagon over chain-of-command integrity.

In a subsequent post on X (formerly Twitter), Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reinforced the administration’s stance:

“Undermining military command structure or opposing the president’s national agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”

Diplomatic Fallout and Strategic Implications

Vance’s visit originally included First Lady Usha Vance leading a goodwill tour across Greenland, but the trip was revised after backlash from Greenlandic officials over the timing and nature of the visit. Greenland’s new coalition government had yet to take office, making the visit diplomatically sensitive.

Analysts suggest that Meyers’ dismissal reflects the administration’s zero-tolerance policy for public dissent among military leadership, especially in contested geopolitical areas.

Trump’s renewed ambition to exert greater U.S. influence over Greenland has reignited debate among NATO allies, with Denmark reaffirming that the territory is not for sale or negotiation.