Washington, Jan. 29 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly defended President Donald Trump's military operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, telling lawmakers that the move removed a major national security threat in the Western Hemisphere.

On Wednesday, Rubio made the remarks during a public hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the first since the January 3 operation that ousted Maduro.

The session saw sharp divisions between Republican and Democratic members over the administration's foreign policy, including Trump's rhetoric on Greenland and broader positions on Nato, Iran and China.

Addressing lawmakers, Rubio said the United States is now safer following the operation ...