Panama has complained to the United Nations over President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize the Panama Canal. | TAG24

Trump has suggested using military force to retake the Panama Canal, but such an action would involve complications.

Often called one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Panama Canal splits the continents of North and South America and launched a new era in global commerce when it opened in 1914.

President Donald Trump has called for the US to retake control of the Panama Canal unless the cost of passage for naval and merchant ships is slashed. Trump’s refusal to rule out the use of force is a throwback to the 19th century era of gunboat diplomacy.