"Our job—where we can'is to provide Latin America with a choice," a U.K. government minister said on Thursday.

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.

A key focus of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Central America this week — his first trip as America’s top diplomat — will be to counter China’s growing influence in the region, the State Department’s top spokesperson said this week,

In his first interview, President Trump's newly appointed head of the Federal Maritime Commission, Louis Sola, lays out how the administration plans to challenge Chinese influence at the key global trade gateway,

US senators heard sharply different analyses about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal on Wednesday, with some experts suggesting solutions ranging from enhanced trade partnerships to military intervention to regain control of the strategic waterway.

Experts dispute President Donald Trump’s claims that the Panama Canal is controlled by China and overcharging U.S. ships.

Nonetheless, Trump’s bet is to not have to pursue military conquest in the Athenian way. He would rather have a complacent Panama, accepting all U.S. demands. As shown by the recent Colombia-U.S. clash over deportations, Trump’s approach seems to be “cooperate or else.”

China has fired back at President Donald Trump, dismissing his claim that Beijing has seized control of the Panama Canal as baseless and provocative. Newsweek reached out by email to a Trump representative and to Hutchison Ports, a Hong Kong–based port operator that controls ports near the canal, for comment.

Jose Raul Mulino said he won't discuss control of the canal during the secretary of state's visit. Rubio, in contrast, said "we're going to address that topic."

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic from Feb. 1-6, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

Since 75% of all ships are American and only 21% from China, the canal's second biggest customer, the US inevitably pays more overall. But Chinese influence in Panama does not stop at Hutchison Ports.