United States to host meeting of Western Hemisphere high officials on security priorities

(Patria) - High defense officials from 34 countries will meet in February to discuss common security priorities in the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. military announced on Friday, just weeks after it ousted Venezuela's leader, Reuters reports.

"Nations across the Western Hemisphere share deep historical ties, common values, and an interest in regional stability that supports the long-term security and prosperity of the United States and our shared neighborhood," the U.S. military statement said.

The first Conference of Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense on February 11 will be hosted by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces, Dan Caine.

Among those invited are the highest military leaders from Denmark, the United Kingdom, and France, which have territories in the area, the New York Times reported.

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