The newly elected president Donald Trump communicated that Kevin Marino Cabrera is his nominee for the new U.S. ambassador to Panama, just days after announcing that his country should take control of the Panama Canal, sparking a diplomatic crisis with an allied country.
"I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams," Trump posted on his social network Truth Social.
Trump wants to fight for the Panama Canal
"Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin. He will do a FANTASTIC job representing the interests of our nation in Panama!" added on Truth Social.
During his announcement on Christmas Day, Trump mentioned that the United States should extend its territory by taking control of the Panama Canal, Greenland, and Canada.
While Trump wished a Merry Christmas, he added that "including the wonderful soldiers from China, who operate with love, but illegally, the Panama Canal".
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump's sudden idea: "The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable," he said in a video.
The Panama Canal is an important commercial route that was originally built by the United States in 1904. The waterway has been under Panama's control since 1999 after negotiations between the Carter administration and Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos in 1977 led to the establishment of two treaties.
Who is the new ambassador of Panama?
Cabrera was born in Miami and won the elections in his county two years ago. He is loyal to Trump and in 2020 he was the state director of Florida for the campaign and a member of the Platform Committee of the National Republican Committee.
According to their social media, they were born to Cuban parents in exile and graduated from Miami Dade College and Florida International University.