American access to the Panama Canal, one of several new directives outlined in what amounts to a major overhaul of US strategic priorities, according to a new memo that was sent to senior leaders and reviewed by CNN.

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 US military is reviewing options to secure access to the Panama Canal following President Donald Trump’s calls to “take back” the waterway. Trump claims Panama has broken past agreements and accuses China of exerting influence over the canal,

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

President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to prepare plans for carrying out his threat to "take back" the Panama Canal, including by military force if needed, two U.S. officials familiar with the situation told NBC News Thursday.

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.

President Donald Trump has instructed the US military to prepare plans to seize the Panama Canal in his bid to “reclaim” the waterway. Reuters reports that the US Southern Command has developed an array of potential plans to ensure that America has full access to the Panama Canal.

Panama's leader has been pushing back hard on President Trump's insistence on "reclaiming" the Panama Canal for the United States, going so far as to accuse him of lying, but that hasn't stopped Trump from moving forward with his ultimate plans for the Central American waterway.

Panama's leader accused President Trump of lying in his Tuesday congressional address, where he said his administration was "reclaiming" the Panama Canal.