Hello and welcome to Newsar from the BBC World Service.

Coming to you live from our studios in central London, I'm Julian Marshall.

The West Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Panama on his first overseas trip as America's top diplomat,

and he'll certainly need all his

diplomatic skills to explain why President Trump has threatened to seize control with force

if necessary of the Panama Canal, the internationally used waterway in Panama that connects

the Atlantic to the Pacific. Mr. Trump made the threat in his inauguration speech last

month. He claimed that Panama had breached the terms of its treaty with the U.S. and Washington was

losing out to China. We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been

made. And Panama's promise to us has been broken.

The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships

are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form, and that includes the United States Navy.

And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn't give it to China.

We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back.

But Panama insists the canal is under its control, and if anything, the United States gets preferential treatment.

Ilya Spino de Marotta is the deputy administrator of the Panama Canal Authority.

It's very important that it's known that the Panama Canal is run by Panamanians. We are an

autonomous entity of the state. And I mean, I've been working in the canal for 39 years,

so I can assure you that the Panama Canal is run by Panamanians and it's an autonomous entity

of the country. I mean, we're a very transparent entity. You can see how much the tolls are.

And actually, the U.S. military and auxiliary vessels get priority to come through the canal,

and they don't have to pay a reservation. So on the contrary, if there is any country or state

...