A commander in the Space Force was removed from her position after she circulated an email where she distanced herself from Vice President JD Vance’s disapproval of Denmark’s management of Greenland.
During a visit to Greenland in late March, Vance criticized Denmark and advocated for Greenland’s independence, aligning with Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring the territory for the United States, including Pituffik Space Base.
‘This has to happen, and the reason, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe,’ he said.
Shortly after Vance’s comments, Colonel Susannah Meyers, who oversees Pituffik Space Base and was pictured with Vance and his wife Usha during the visit, sent an email to staff members that seemed to oppose the vice president’s statements.
‘I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,’ Meyers wrote, according to Military.com.
On Thursday, the Space Force sent out a press release announcing that Meyers ‘was removed from command’ over ‘loss of confidence in her ability to lead.’
‘Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,’ a spokesperson added.
Colonel Shawn Lee has assumed command.
DailyMail.com has reached out to both the White House and a spokesperson for Vice President Vance for comment.
Meyers’ email was written to both troops and civilians who work on the base, some of whom are from Canada, Denmark and Greenland and its veracity confirmed by the Space Force.
She told them she ‘spent the weekend thinking about Friday’s visit – the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you’ before slamming the vice president.
‘I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly — together,’ Meyers added.
Meyers assumed control of Pituffik Space Base last July, succeeding Colonel Jason Terry.
The vice president traveled to Greenland in late March to send a message to Denmark and the world about the political changes the Trump administration wants to see in the territory.
‘What we think is going to happen is that Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent of Denmark, and then we will have conversations with the people of Denmark from there,’ he said.
He said the United States was no longer willing to ‘pick up the tab’ for Europe to keep the region safe.
‘If the people of Greenland are willing to partner with United States, and I think they ultimately will, we could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection, and I think they would fare a lot better economically as well,’ he said.
Danish leaders have repeatedly condemned Trump and the United States for expressing interest in Greenland.
But Vance had sharp criticism for Denmark for their failures to secure the region.
‘This has to happen, and the reason, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe,’ he said.
‘Denmark has not kept pace in devoting the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe,’ he added.
Vance, however, walked back the idea that the United States was ready to use military force to seize the territory.
‘Talking about anything too far in the future is way too premature. We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary,’ he said.
Trump thanked Vance and his ‘wonderful wife’ Usha for traveling to the region.
‘They will represent us well, but Greenland is very important for the peace of the world. The piece of the entire world, and I think Denmark understands it. I think the European union understands it, and if they don’t, we are going to have to explain it to them,’ he said.
During his visit, Vance was asked about the president’s desire to acquire Greenland.
‘Well, the president said we have to have Greenland, and I think that we do have to be more serious about the security of Greenland,’ he said.
‘We cannot just ignore this place, we can’t just ignore the president’s desires, but most importantly, we can’t ignore what I said earlier, which is the Russian and Chinese encouragement in Greenland.’
‘Our message is very simple,’ he continued. ‘Yes the people of Greenland are going to have self determination, we hope they choose to partner with the United States because we’re the only nation on earth that will respect their sovereignty and security.’
The Vice President did not speak to the waiting cameras as he arrived on the island, instead entering an armored vehicle briefly after disembarking from Air Force Two.
Speaking to US troops at the base, he said it was a ‘pretty cool thing’ to be the first Vice President to ever visit Greenland.
He added: ‘The mission is really important, the Trump administration is really interested in Arctic security.
‘It’s a big issue and it’s only going to get bigger over the coming decades.
‘As you’ve heard, we have some interest in Greenland from the Trump administration, so we’re gonna talk a little bit about that with our friends in the media.’
Trump has insisted the United States needs the vast Arctic island for national and international security, and has refused to rule out the use of force to get it.
Danish and Greenlandic officials, backed by the European Union, have insisted the United States will not get Greenland.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has denounced US plans to visit the Arctic island uninvited – for what was initially a broader visit to Greenlandic society – as ‘unacceptable pressure’ on Greenland and Denmark.
This morning she said the ‘whole situation of coming to visit when there is no government in place is not showing respect for an ally.’
She added: ‘It’s a shame, but now we have a government that needs to put on its work clothes.’
A majority of Greenlanders oppose US annexation, according to a January poll.
The Pituffik base is an essential part of Washington’s missile defense infrastructure, its location in the Arctic putting it on the shortest route for missiles fired from Russia at the United States.
Known as Thule Air Base until 2023, it served as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
It is also a strategic location for air and submarine surveillance in the northern hemisphere, which Washington claims Denmark has neglected.
