Space Force Commander Removed After Disputing U.S. Stance on Greenland
April 11, 2025 — A high-ranking U.S. Space Force officer has been dismissed after comments critical of the Biden administration's posture toward Greenland surfaced in a leaked internal communication.
Colonel Meyers Challenges Washington’s Narrative
Colonel Ruth Meyers, then commanding officer at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, reportedly voiced dissent in an email following Vice President Jonathan Vance’s visit to the base on March 31. According to Military.com, which verified the email with U.S. Space Force sources, Meyers wrote: “I may not fully grasp the intricacies of current politics, but I can say with certainty that the issues raised by Vice President Vance do not align with the realities at Pituffik Space Base.”
The remarks were seen as undermining the Vice President’s authority and message, prompting swift action from the Department of Defense.
Pentagon Responds Swiftly
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell cited the Military.com report in a post on X (formerly Twitter), declaring: “Actions that undermine the chain of command or attempt to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated within the Department of Defense.”
On April 10, the Space Force formally removed Col. Meyers from her position and named Col. Shawn Lee as her successor. The official statement stressed the importance of nonpartisan conduct among military leadership.
Annexation Plans Spark International Tension
Vice President Vance's visit was part of a larger Arctic strategy tour. During his stop in Greenland, he reiterated President Trump's controversial desire to annex the territory for national security purposes. The proposal quickly met resistance.
Greenland and Denmark presented a united front. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during a visit to the island alongside Greenlandic leaders Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Mute Egede, issued a clear message: “You cannot annex another country.”
Frederiksen further announced increased Danish military presence in the Arctic and offered stronger defense cooperation with the U.S. — without compromising Greenland’s sovereignty.
Greenland’s Quest for Independence
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been part of the Kingdom of Denmark for roughly 300 years. Although there is significant public support for eventual independence, polls show little interest in joining the United States.
Since 2009, Greenland has held the legal right to hold an independence referendum. Recently, political momentum has been building toward organizing such a vote, though no date has been confirmed.
As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Arctic, the incident underscores the fragile balance between strategic interests, military loyalty, and sovereign rights in the polar region.