The Panamanian government formally raised concerns with the United Nations over President Trump’s threats to retake the Panama Canal, noting any threat of force would violate rules. In a letter to U.N.

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

Doubling down on his pre-inauguration threat to reimpose U.S. control over the canal, Trump on Monday accused Panama of breaking the promises it made for the final transfer of the strategic waterway in 1999 and of ceding its operation to China - claims that the Panamanian government has strongly denied.