American access to the Panama Canal, one of several new directives outlined in what amounts to a major overhaul of US strategic priorities, according to a new memo that was sent to senior leaders and reviewed by CNN.

Potential plans range from partnering more closely with Panamanian security forces to a less likely option of U.S. troops' seizing the canal by force, U.S. officials told NBC News.

The sale this week of two Panamanian ports from a Chinese company to a U.S. consortium is a victory for President Donald Trump, but it only appears to have whet his appetite for more concessions from Panama’s government.