President-elect Donald Trump announced Kevin Marino Cabrera, the Miami-Dade commissioner as his pick to become the ambassador to the Republic of Panama, taking another swipe at the Latin American country on Wednesday.

The selection of Mr. Cabrera, a Miami-Dade County commissioner, comes a few days after Mr. Trump called for the United States to regain control of the Panama Canal.

Donald Trump criticised Panama Canal fees as a 'rip-off' and raised alarms about China's influence near the canal, sparking a renewed debate over its trade role and sovereignty