With eyes on Panama Canal, Trump names lotalist Kevin Marino Cabrera ambassador to Panama

Days after expressing his intention to take back the Panama Canal, US President-elect Donald Trump named Florida County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as the Ambassador to Panama. Cabrera served as the District 6 commissioner of Miami-Dade County and has been the Vice Chairman of its International Trade Consortium.

He has actively worked for the Trump campaign in 2020 and 2024 and won the President-elect’s endorsement when he ran for vice chairman of the Florida Republican Party. During Trump’s latest bid to the White House, Cabrera served as Florida’s representative to the Republican National Committee platform committee.

“Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Christmas Day. “He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!” he added. Earlier this month, the president-elect said that the United States could take back control over the  Panama Canal, complaining about the “ridiculous” cost of shipping through the passageway.

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Trump’s eyes on the Panama Canal

Even while announcing Cabrera’s nomination, Trump accused Panama of “ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams.” The Panama Canal is an artificial water passageway which stretches about 50 miles and connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans through the country.

It is touted as a vital link in global shipping since it saves thousands of miles and weeks of travel around the tip of South America. It is pertinent to note that the United States had control over the canal when it was first built in 1914. However, the control lasted until 1979, when former President Jimmy Carter passed control to the Panama Canal Commission, a joint agency of the two countries. The complete control of the Canal was passed to Panama only in 1999.

Trump has expressed concerns that the canal could fall into the “wrong hands,” indicating the growing influence of China, the second-largest user of the canal. A Hong Kong-based firm controls two ports near the waterway, but the Chinese administration has no control over the canal itself.

Trump mentioned his ambition of taking over the canal and in his Christmas message as well. “Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about ‘anything,’" he wrote on TruthSocial.

Panama President José Raúl Mulino Quintero has pushed back against Trump’s latest remarks in a video message. “As president, I want to express clearly that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone is part of Panama, and it will continue to be," he said in a statement.

Cabrera thanks Trump

Cabrera’s view of the Panama Canal is still unknown. However, on Wednesday, he thanked the President-elect for the appointment. “Thank you, President Trump!” he wrote on X, formerly known as Trump. “I’m humbled and honoured by your nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Panama. Let’s get to work!” he added.

Thank you, President Trump! 🇺🇸

I’m humbled and honored by your nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Panama.

Let’s get to work! pic.twitter.com/p1N8v3YYLJ

— Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera (@AmbCabrera) December 25, 2024

In the past, Trump has described Cabrera, a former lobbyist and political operative in Florida, as “a fearless America First Conservative who has demonstrated his dedication to the MAGA movement.”