In response to pressure from the Trump administration, Panama has withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project, says the U.S. president will likely feel emboldened to seek similar leverage from the more than 100 other countries that are still part of Beijing's infrastructure project.

President Donald Trump is a man with a plan for the canal, namely to force Panama to limit China’s influence on the vital 50-mile shortcut between the Atlantic and the Pacific or risk the United States taking back the canal by force if necessary. Just a quick history review.