Potential plans range from partnering more closely with Panamanian security forces to a less likely option of U.S. troops seizing the canal by force, U.S. officials told NBC News.

The White House has instructed the U.S. military to draft options for increasing the American troop presence in Panama

President Donald Trump reportedly instructed the U.S. military to draw up plans to increase U.S. troop presence in the Panama

Commander of US Southern Command presented draft strategies to Pentagon chief, NBC News reports, citing US officials - Anadolu Ajansı

Donald Trump has said repeatedly that he wants to “take back” the Panama Canal but has not offered specifics about how he would do so. Here is an explanation of the history and laws governing the critical waterway.

NBC News' Courtney Kube reports on the Trump administration directing the U.S. military to begin developing options for the Panama Canal, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

President Donald Trump's White House has reportedly asked the United States military to draw up plans to a military operation to retake the Panama Canal. According to NBC News' sources, "U.S. Southern Command is developing potential plans that vary from partnering more closely with the Panamanian military to the less likely option of U.