Some U.S. lawmakers and officials are touting a nearly half-century-old treaty between the United States and Panama to justify the Trump administration's threat to reclaim the Panama Canal - provided it can show the strategic waterway's operation is under threat.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland and retake control of the Panama Canal is driven by legitimate national security interests stemming from growing concerns about Chinese activity in the Arctic and in Latin America.

The U.S. has voiced concerns over Chinas growing influence around the Panama Canal, with Mauricio Claver-Carone, U.S. special envoy for Latin America, warning of national security risks. His remarks come ahead of U.