The U.S. military has removed Col. Susannah Meyers as commander of Pituffik Space Base in Greenland after she reportedly distanced herself from Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark during his recent visit. The Space Force cited a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead,” signaling a crackdown on dissent within the ranks against the Trump administration’s agenda.
Vance, during his trip last month, accused Denmark of neglecting Greenland’s security needs and reiterated President Donald Trump’s past interest in acquiring the strategically vital Arctic territory.
The Pentagon swiftly acted, with spokesman Sean Parnell stating on social media: “Actions that undermine the chain of command or subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated.” Meyers, who took command in July 2023, was replaced by Col. Shawn Lee, previously stationed in Alaska.
Denmark and Greenland have pushed back against U.S. annexation rhetoric, with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen declaring, “You can’t annex other countries,” while proposing deeper Arctic defense cooperation. The incident underscores rising tensions over the region’s militarization and the Trump administration’s hardline stance on allies’ commitments.
For more political updates, visit DC Brief.
