Donald Trump Appoints Kevin Cabrera As US Ambassador To Panama

JAKARTA - The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the nomination of former Regional Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, as US Ambassador to Panama.

"I am pleased to announce Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a country that utilizes us regarding the Panama Canal exceeding its wildest dream," Trump said at Truth Social, as quoted by ANTARA.

Trump added that Cabrera previously served as Commissioner of the Miami-Dade Region, Deputy Chair of the International Trade Consortium, and had worked on the Trump 2020 campaign team as Director of Florida State.

"Some understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin he will do an outstanding job of representing the interests of our country in Panama," Trump said.

On the same day, Cabrera declared himself "respectful for the nomination". "Let's start working," he wrote on platform X.

On Sunday (22/12), Trump said he would demand a quick return of the Panama Canal to US holdings due to the high imposition of tariffs. Trump stressed that the Panama Canal is critical to US trade and to the rapid deployment of US Navy troops in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Trump added that the United States is the channel's largest user, covering more than 72 percent of its total traffic. In response to Trump's statement, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino declared his country's sovereignty non-negotiable and that the Panama Canal wholly belongs to Panama under the 1977 agreement.