The United States will retake the Panama Canal, according to President Donald Trump, or “something very powerful is going to happen.”

The president, who claimed that China was controlling the waterway and using it against the United States, reaffirmed his commitment to reclaiming the canal or negotiating a new agreement after leaving Air Force One at Joint Andrews Airbase.

“Very joyful people at the moment. No one anticipated that would occur. Thus, they are at home and secure with their loved ones. It was a significant one. We are discussing the Panama Canal while Secretary of State Rubio is in Panama. They’ve done something awful. They broke the contract. They are not permitted to break the contract. The Panama Canal is operated by China. It was foolishly given to Panama instead of China. However, they broke the contract, and either we’ll revoke it or something really significant will occur. Regarding other matters, Trump informed reporters, “As you are aware, we had a very busy week.”

During his weekend visit to Panama, Secretary of State Marco Rubio forewarned the leaders that if they did not take immediate action to curtail China’s influence over the canal, the United States would retaliate. Trump then warned reporters that “something very powerful is going to happen” if the US is not given control of the canal.

In the past, the president has alluded to the prospect of using economic and military pressure to persuade Panama to give up the canal.