Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks soon on his inaugural trip as the United States’ top diplomat. His first stop, Panama could prove to be the most contentious on the itinerary.

President Donald Trump has called for the US to retake control of the Panama Canal unless the cost of passage for naval and merchant ships is slashed. Trump’s refusal to rule out the use of force is a throwback to the 19th century era of gunboat diplomacy.

Trump’s new top maritime official Louis Sola tells CNBC ‘all options on the table’ to punish Panama and defend U.S. business, trade and national security.

Often called one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Panama Canal splits the continents of North and South America and launched a new era in global commerce when it opened in 1914.

More than 100 years after the construction of the engineering marvel that linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — and 25 years after the canal was returned to Panama by the US — the Panama Canal faces renewed intimidation from US President Donald Trump.

Trump, re-upping a post-election promise, decried the US’s decision to give the Canal Zone back to the Republic of Panama, accusing the linchpin country between Central and South America of ...

Built in the early 20th century by the U.S., it was for almost a century an American enclave that literally divided the country of Panama in two. The “Canal Zone,” a 10-mile-wide corridor ...

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Tuesday expressed alarm at China's influence on the Panama Canal ... Born in Venezuela and based in Houston, she is author ...