Trump names envoy to Panama after threats to regain control of canal

Donald Trump, elected president of the United States, appointed Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as ambassador to Panama. The decision came amid US intentions to restore control over the Panama Canal, which had been lost 25 years ago, reports Reuters.

Trump described Cabrera as a “fierce fighter for America First principles,” who, according to him, played a key role in driving economic growth and strengthening international partnerships.

“Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin – He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

History of the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean’s Panama Gulf to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is located on the Panama Isthmus within Panama.

The 1898 Spanish-American War reinforced the US desire to build a canal across the Panama Isthmus to enhance its influence in the Western Hemisphere.

On January 22, 1903, Colombian Ambassador Tomás Herrán and U.S. Secretary of State John Hay signed a treaty granting the U.S. a 100-year lease for a strip of land to construct the Panama Canal.

The US Department of Defense began construction of the canal in 1904. The project was carried out under the supervision of the American Defense Department, and Panama essentially became a US protectorate. The canal was completed after 10 years, costing $400 million and involving 70,000 workers.

The United States controlled the Panama Canal until December 31, 1999, after which it was handed over to Panama under its government’s control.

Trump’s statements on the Panama Canal

On December 22, 2024, Donald Trump announced plans to regain US control over the Panama Canal.

He stated that Panama, which has maintained diplomatic relations with the US since 1903, is robbing us at the Panama Canal in ways they could never imagine.

Trump accused Chinese soldiers of illegally exploiting the canal and pointed out that “the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money.”

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino stated that China has no influence over the administration of the canal and emphasized that there are no Chinese soldiers at the canal.

China does not control or manage the canal. However, a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has long managed two ports located at the Caribbean and Pacific entrances to the canal.

Read more about what Trump said about Greenland and the Panama Canal in our analytical material.