"I am very pleased to have fulfilled my promise and closed the Darién, with all that this means for regional and Panamanian security," said President José Raúl Mulino

The White House has instructed the U.S. military to draft options for increasing the American troop presence in Panama

Trump has previously rejected assuring the U.S. won't use force to regain control of the waterway as he expresses concerns over alleged Chinese influence

Costa Rican authorities have raised concerns about inadequate medical evaluations and the conditions of U.S. deportees held in detention facilities near the Panamanian border

The accusation takes place during the same week that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the country in his first international trip since assuming the role

Jose Raul Mulino has also rejected any chances of lowering rates after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said the country should take back the route

Security Minister Frank Abrego said the number of crossings has dropped to about 300,000 from the 520,000 of last year

Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands had stated they would not receive U.S. deportees from third countries following a report about Trump's intentions

With over 263,000 migrants crossing the Darien Gap this year, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino hopes a third country will accept deported Venezuelans.

The measure could potentially diminish the impact of an agreement with the U.S. to stem the flow of migrants crossing through the path

Panama's new president on Thursday ruled out forcibly repatriating US-bound undocumented migrants who make the dangerous jungle crossing from Colombia, in an apparent softening of his stance.

Mulino, 65, was elected in May after a campaign in which he vowed to close the dangerous migration route through the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama.

Jose Raul Mulino left his farm and horses behind with his sights set on becoming Panama's vice president under his former boss, ex-head of state Ricardo Martinelli.