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.

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Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out use of military force to seize control of the vital U.S.-built waterway, as well as Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.

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Writing for Americas Quarterly this week, Panamanian jurist Alonso E. Illueca argued that Panama’s efforts to appease Trump aren’t working. These include the BlackRock deal and other moves like quitting China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, taking in third-country migrants deported by the U.S., backing a U.S. resolution on Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council, auditing the country’s ports, and revisiting a railway project originally developed by the Chinese government.

Trump orders military to plan invasion of Panama to seize canal: report

This must be another 7D chess move by Trump 2.0. /s

Related:

Geopolitical tensions at Panama Canal still very high despite sale of ports

The FMC said it is investigating “constraints that have affected transits” through seven chokepoints: the English Channel, Malacca Strait [Malacca Dilemma], Northern Sea Passage [Greenland], Singapore Strait, Panama Canal, Strait of Gibraltar and Suez Canal.

US Seizing Panama & Greenland Aimed at China

The World’s Major Maritime Trade Routes: Connecting the Globe (Strait of Malacca)