Panama has owned and administered the Panama Canal for nearly three decades. President Trump wants to change that to counter growing Chinese influence in Latin America.

President Trump’s threat to retake the canal came out of the blue, inflaming Panamanians. But Trump’s view is nothing new.

Republicans hoping to thwart Beijing’s influence in Latin America are urging the Panamanian government to cut ties with Chinese entities.

In recent weeks, when he was President-elect Donald Trump publicly said that Panama should return the Panama Canal to the United States, and he would not rule out using military force to reclaim it. At his presidential Inauguration on Monday Trump doubled down on saying that his new administration was going to take back the canal.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s insistence that he wants to have the Panama Canal back under U.S. control is feeding nationalist sentiment and worry in Panama, home to the critical trade route and a country familiar with U.

They say they fought too hard to wrest it from the U.S. to now hand back the waterway, which is part of the nation’s identity.

Trump doubles down on retaking Panama Canal: ‘You’re serious?’ Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., joins 'Fox & Friends' to discuss his resolution calling on Panama to cut ties with China as President Donald Trump continues his push to retake the Panama Canal.