US to host meeting of Western Hemisphere defence chiefs Feb 11

TOP defence officials from 34 countries will meet in February to discuss common security priorities in the Western Hemisphere, the US military said on Friday (Jan 23), just weeks after it deposed Venezuela’s leader.

“Nations across the Western Hemisphere share deep historical ties, common values, and interest in regional stability which supports long-term security and prosperity for the United States and our shared neighborhood,” the US military said in a statement.

The inaugural Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference on Feb 11 will be hosted by US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.

Top military leaders from Denmark, Britain and France that have territories in the area are among those to have been invited, the New York Times reported.

In January, the United States attacked Venezuela and deposed President Nicolas Maduro, in Washington’s most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. REUTERS