President-elect Trump announced Wednesday that he will select Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as U.S. ambassador to Panama.
The announcement comes amid President Trump's feud with U.S. allies over control of the Panama Canal.
“I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will be the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a country that has robbed us of the Panama Canal,” President Trump said Wednesday on Truth Social. It's far beyond their imagination.” post.
President Trump last week began promoting the idea that the Panama Canal, which has been under Panama's control since 1977 under an agreement signed by former President Carter, should be returned to U.S. hands.
He complained of “exorbitant prices,” said the U.S. was “cheated” and said China had undue influence over the canal's operation, which charges a toll for each vehicle that passes. insisted.
“It's given to Panama and the Panamanian people, but there's a clause that says they have to treat us fairly, and they're not treating us fairly,” Trump said at Turning Point's American Fest. said.
“If the moral and legal principles of this generous act are not upheld, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned completely, promptly, and without question to the United States,” he said. continued.
Panamanian President José Raul Mulino quickly pushed back, reaffirming that Panama would continue to maintain control of the canal.
“As President, I will protect every square meter of the Panama Canal,
Its contiguous areas belong to and will continue to belong to Panama. sovereignty and
Our independence is non-negotiable,” Raul Mulino said in a statement.
“Every Panamanian, here and everywhere in the world, carries it in his heart, and it is part of our history of struggle and irreversible conquest.”
Trump and his transition team have not established a legal basis for returning the canal.
Mr. Cabrera must figure out how to navigate tense relations between the two countries, with his position as president-elect in limbo. President Trump has already pinned his hopes on the next ambassador, declaring her a warrior for “America First.”
President Trump added, “There are few people who understand Latin American politics like Kevin. He will do a great job representing our interests in Panama.”
