President Trump’s push to take back control of the strategic waterway stokes memories of a period of U.S. imperial ambition and violence.

Panama’s government and President José Raúl Mulino have repeatedly denied that there is any Chinese presence at the canal.

President Trump said of the Panama Canal, “We’re taking it back.” The letter from Panama cited articles of the U.N. charter that prohibit member states from using threats and force.

United Nations, January 22 (RHC)-- The Panamanian government has complained to the United Nations over U.S. President Donald Trump's "worrying" threats to seize the Panama Canal after more than two decades of the Central American country’s control over the interoceanic waterway.

Panama has formally lodged a complaint with the United Nations in response to US President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize control of the Panama Canal. At the same time, the Panamanian government has initiated an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator managing two ports along the vital waterway.

Panama has complained to the United Nations over United States President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.

In his inaugural address on Monday, Donald Trump repeated his complaint that China was effectively "operating" the Panama Canal through its growing presence around the waterway, which the United States handed over at the end of 1999.

Panama has raised concerns at the United Nations over President Donald Trump's threat to reclaim the Panama Canal while also auditing a Hong Kong-linked company's Panama Ports operation. Trump alleges China's growing influence over the canal,

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino has denied that any other nation was interfering in the canal, which he said was operated on a principle of neutrality. "The canal is and will remain Panama's," Mulino said in response to Trump's threats.

PANAMA CITY – Panama has complained to the United Nations over US President Donald Trump’s “worrying” threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it

Panama has complained to the UN over US President Donald Trump’s “worrying” threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.