US to host meeting of Western Hemisphere defense chiefs February 11

Top defense officials from ‍34 countries will meet in February to ⁠discuss common security priorities in the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. military said on Friday, ‌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 ‍U.S. military said in a ‍statement.

The inaugural Western Hemisphere Chiefs of ‌Defense Conference on February 11 will be hosted by U.S. 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.