The U.S. military must work to provide options to ensure the United States has full access to the Panama Canal, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday.

The U.S. government has ordered the military to prepare plans for increasing its presence in Panama. This decision is part of a broader effort to secure control over the Panama Canal, one of the most important waterways in global trade.

(Reuters) - 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. WHY IS THE PANAMA CANAL IMPORTANT?