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 White House has instructed the U.S. military to draft options for increasing the American troop presence in Panama

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

Commander of US Southern Command presented draft strategies to Pentagon chief, NBC News reports, citing US officials - Anadolu Ajansı

The White House has asked the United States military to draw up plans for how it might seize the Panama Canal “by force,” a bombshell report revealed Thursday. The alleged directive comes a week after President Donald Trump told lawmakers in his joint address to Congress he would be “reclaiming” the vital waterway to “further enhance our national security.