WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, Jamaica’s Chief of Defence Staff, is representing the Caribbean nation at the inaugural Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference in the United States capital. The high-level military gathering, convened by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, brings together senior defense officials from approximately 34 nations across the hemisphere.
The Jamaica Defence Force confirmed Wemyss-Gorman’s participation through an official social media announcement. The conference serves as a strategic platform for military leaders to address collective security concerns and enhance regional cooperation mechanisms.
Central to the discussions are transnational security threats affecting Western Hemisphere nations, including illicit drug trafficking and the proliferation of illegal firearms across borders. The dialogue builds upon previous diplomatic engagements between the United States and Caribbean partners.
This development follows earlier commitments expressed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his 2025 visit to Jamaica, where he pledged continued American support for Jamaica’s crime prevention initiatives and efforts to disrupt cross-border criminal networks. The conference represents a significant step in strengthening multilateral defense relationships and developing coordinated strategies against shared security challenges in the region.