China's presence around the Panama Canal is a national security concern that Panama's government has to deal with, U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone said on Friday, ahead of U.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland and retake control of the Panama Canal is driven by legitimate national security interests stemming from growing concerns about Chinese activity and influence in the Arctic and in Latin America.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make clear to Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino in an upcoming visit that the Panama Canal is a strategic asset and cannot be under Chinese control, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Friday.