Political Tensions in Greenland — U.S. Base Commander Dismissed Following Vice President Vance’s Harsh Remarks

Political Tensions in Greenland — U.S. Base Commander Dismissed Following Vice President Vance’s Harsh Remarks

Colonel Suzannah Myers, the commander of the U.S. military base in Greenland, has been dismissed after she sent an email distancing herself from Vice President J.D. Vance’s anti-Denmark remarks.

The U.S. Space Operations Command announced that Colonel Myers was removed due to a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead” at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.

Last month, during a visit to Denmark, Vice President Vance stated that Denmark had “not done right by the people of Greenland” and had failed to invest adequately in their security.

In an internal email leaked to a military news outlet, Colonel Myers told base personnel that Vance’s comments “do not reflect the views of the base.” Following Vance’s visit on March 31, she wrote:
“I don’t know much about politics, but what I do know is that the issues Vice President Vance discussed are not the position of Pituffik Space Base.”

Pentagon Reaction
The email was published by Military.com, which confirmed its authenticity with the U.S. Space Force. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell shared the report on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Actions that undermine the chain of command or harm President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated in the Department of Defense.”

In a statement, the Space Force confirmed that Colonel Myers will be replaced by Colonel Sean Lee, who previously served as squadron commander at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska.

Political Tension Over Greenland
During his trip, Vice President Vance revived former President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to annex Greenland for U.S. security interests — an idea opposed by both Denmark and Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during a recent visit to Greenland alongside local Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and his predecessor Múte Egede, said:
“You cannot annex another country.”
She added that Denmark is increasing its military presence in the Arctic and has proposed closer cooperation with the United States.

Geopolitical Significance of Greenland
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been under Danish control for nearly 300 years. During World War II, when Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, the U.S. established a military base in Greenland.

Mark Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Danish Defence College, told the BBC:
“If Russia were to launch nuclear missiles at the United States, the shortest route would be through Greenland and the North Pole. That’s why Pituffik Space Base is so crucial to U.S. defense.”