In his first interview, President Trump's newly appointed head of the Federal Maritime Commission, Louis Sola, lays out how the administration plans to challenge Chinese influence at the key global trade gateway,

A key focus of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Central America this week — his first trip as America’s top diplomat — will be to counter China’s growing influence in the region, the State Department’s top spokesperson said this week,

The Tuesday hearing delved into security issues and foreign influence on the foremost maritime channel connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

US senators heard sharply different analyses about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal on Wednesday, with some experts suggesting solutions ranging from enhanced trade partnerships to military intervention to regain control of the strategic waterway.

Nonetheless, Trump’s bet is to not have to pursue military conquest in the Athenian way. He would rather have a complacent Panama, accepting all U.S. demands. As shown by the recent Colombia-U.S. clash over deportations, Trump’s approach seems to be “cooperate or else.”

"Our job—where we can'is to provide Latin America with a choice," a U.K. government minister said on Thursday.

Amid Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) also stressed the need to properly compete with China and “send them back to their own hemisphere.” He added that Trump publicly expressing interest in Greenland is “broadcasting” that “America is great again.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts that President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland and reasserting control over the Panama Canal stems from legitimate national security threats posed by China's growing influence in these strategic areas.

Panama President José Raúl Mulino says there will be no negotiation with the United States over ownership of the Panama Canal.

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino confirms discussions about US control of the Panama Canal are non-negotiable. He hopes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit will focus on cooperation concerning migration and anti-drug trafficking efforts.