U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday warned Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino that Washington will "take measures necessary" if Panama does not immediately take steps to end what President Donald Trump sees as China's influence and control over the Panama Canal.

Panama's José Raúl Mulino announced that his country would not renew its agreement with China's Belt and Road Initiative following a visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The port of Cristobal in Colon, Panama. The Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hutchison Port Holdings -- part of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison conglomerate -- operates ports at both ends of the waterway: at Balboa on the Pacific and Cristobal on the Atlantic. © Reuters