This is John Batchel, conversation with colleague Evan Ellis, Professor Evan Ellis,

U.S. Army War College, about the new ambassador from the United States to Panama,

Kevin Cabrera from Florida.

Evan thinks it is a very positive step that someone close to President Trump's political circle in Florida is in Panama because the concerns continue

about Chinese encroachment in the Panama Canal area in general, all of Central America,

but especially Panama Canal, because of national security and also because of the Darien Gap.

Here's Evan Ellis to explain more of this tonight about Latin America and the Trump administration.

Chapter in the China story with having had the visit by Secretary of Defense Pete Hagezeth

and some increase in U.S. military coordination with Panama.

And now finally the arrival of new U.S. ambassador, Kevin Cabrera, who again is a continuing

President Trump's pro-China message.

Kevin Cabrera was actually a commissioner from Miami-Dade County, worked on President

Trump's campaign as his director for Florida, so actually has a really a background of being very closely

tied to President Trump and in his political project. And so I think at the very least,

you have Panama getting somebody who's very close to the president and Panama indicating that

it wants to continue in business and other areas to continue that relationship.

I think China will continue to be a friction, but my hope is at least for the moment,

we're moving past that with respect to the Panama chapter of the story. The Marginlelli story, is that a silo by itself or does that...