José Raul Mulino, Panama's minister of public security, has directly told President Donald Trump its canal belongs to Panama.

China may have investments in the operations of the Panama Canal but its soldiers are not operating it.

China has fired back at President Donald Trump, dismissing his claim that Beijing has seized control of the Panama Canal as baseless and provocative. Newsweek reached out by email to a Trump representative and to Hutchison Ports,

The answer is simple: there is no greater or more idealistic symbol of U.S. power in the world than the Panama Canal. As Trump seeks a way to enhance the country's power in the world, leaning on imagery regarding the Panama Canal provides just the right message.

The President of Panama has roundly rejected any idea that his country will give up control of the Panama Canal.

The [Panama government] needs concrete data to counter this China is controlling the canal narrative,’ insider says.

Russia’s foreign ministry has called on Trump to reaffirm the current international agreement surrounding the Panama Canal and to leave it in control of the nation of Panama.

Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s port business in Panama said it’s committed to operating in the country, after local authorities launched an audit of the company amid concerns raised by US President Donald Trump.

In recent weeks, when he was President-elect Donald Trump publicly said that Panama should return the Panama Canal to the United States, and he would not rule out using military force to reclaim it. At his presidential Inauguration on Monday Trump doubled down on saying that his new administration was going to take back the canal.

President Trump said of the Panama Canal, “We’re taking it back.” The letter from Panama cited articles of the U.N. charter that prohibit member states from using threats and force.

If the ice melt doesn’t run off the road or evaporate during the 5-7hours of thawing today, then we’ll see a re-freeze tonight. That will likely lead toward black ice developing overnight and into Thursday morning, especially for non-treated roads or surfaces.