Head of
US military base in Greenland fired after JD Vance visit
Col Susannah
Meyers removed amid reports she distanced base from Vance’s criticism of
Denmark’s oversight of territory
Miranda
Bryant and agencies
Fri 11 Apr
2025 09.59 EDT
The head of
the US military base in Greenland has been fired for criticising Washington’s
agenda for the Arctic island after JD Vance visited two weeks ago.
Col Susannah
Meyers, who had served as commander of the Pituffik space base since July, was
removed amid reports she had distanced herself and the base from the US
vice-president’s criticism of Denmark and its oversight of the territory.
Greenland
has its own government but is also part of the kingdom of Denmark, which
previously ruled it as a colony and continues to control its foreign and
defence policies. Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to acquire the
island and has not ruled out military or economic force to do so.
The US Space
Force said in a statement on Thursday night that Meyers had been removed from
the position of commander on Thursday due to a “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,” it added.
The
statement did not expand further, but the US website Military.com said Meyers
sent an email to all personnel at Pituffik on 31 March “seemingly aimed at
generating unity among the airmen and guardians, as well as the Canadians,
Danes and Greenlanders who work there, following Vance’s appearance”.
Vance
visited the base on 28 March in a trip that was substantially changed at the
last minute amid increasingly strained relations between the US, Greenland and
Denmark. During the visit he told troops that the US had to gain control of the
Arctic island to stop the threat of China and Russia. He also criticised
Denmark, which he said had “not done a good job by the people of Greenland”.
Originally,
the delegation had been planned to be led by his wife, the second lady, Usha
Vance, who had been scheduled to visit the capital, Nuuk, and a dog sled race
in Sisimiut. But after outrage over the timing after the election – the new
coalition government had yet to be sworn in – the plans were changed.
The
vice-president said during a press conference at the base: “Our message to
Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of
Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have
underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land
mass.”
In her email
Meyers wrote: “I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do
know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by vice-president Vance
on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik space base.”
The Pentagon
spokesperson Sean Parnell said on X: “Actions to undermine the chain of command
or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department
of Defence.”
Trump has
said the US needs control of Greenland for national and international security.
The US Space
Force said Meyers had been replaced with Col Shawn Lee.
Meyers
appears to be the latest in a Trump administration purge of high-ranking
military officers and commanders. Others include Air Force Gen Tim Haugh, the
director of the National Security Agency, and V Adm Shoshana Chatfield, who
served with Nato.
Joe Kasper,
the chief of staff at the US department of defence, said: “Civilian control of
the military is a bedrock principle of our armed forces. Actions to undermine
the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be
tolerated at the defence department.”
The Danish
defence department declined to comment. The Pituffik space base has been
contacted for comment.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário