The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, has invited his colleagues from several Western Hemisphere countries, as well as the United Kingdom and France, to meet in Washington on February 11.
The meeting will focus on the fight against drug cartels and other criminal groups, Bloomberg reported.
“Chiefs of staff and senior military officials from 34 countries will meet to develop a common understanding of shared security priorities and strengthen regional security“, the US Department of Defense agency quoted.
The participants in the meeting will “examine the importance of strong partnerships, sustainable cooperation and joint efforts to counter criminal and terrorist organizations, as well as and external actors who undermine regional security and stability“, the agency added.
As the agency notes, the meeting underscores the importance of Latin America for the Trump administration. The meeting will take place a little more than a month after the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and against the backdrop of ongoing US military strikes against suspected smuggling boats trying to transport drugs from Latin America to the United States.
The Pentagon did not specify the list of countries invited. According to Bloomberg sources, the list includes countries in the Western Hemisphere, as well as countries with overseas possessions there, such as the United Kingdom and France.