Ever since Christopher Columbus discovered that a New World blocked the sea route to China, the eyes of princes, nations and fortune seekers have turned to finding and controlling a water route through the Americas.

President-elect Donald Trump ran on a platform of isolating the US from foreign conflicts like the Ukraine war, increasing tariffs on foreign trade partners, and rebuilding domestic manufacturing. But in recent days he has suggested a more outwardly aggressive approach for his foreign policy.

President-elect Donald Trump is decrying the increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.