About this Event
You are invited to join the World Affairs Council of Miami on Thursday, October 23, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a timely, high-level conversation on U.S.–Panama Relations & China’s Role in Latin America with His Excellency Kevin Marino Cabrera, U.S. Ambassador to Panama.
Presented in partnership with Miami Dade College, this program is part of our Mark Samuelian Distinguished Speaker Series and will be hosted at Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus in collaboration with the Miami Dade College Honors College and the U.S. Embassy in Panama. The conversation will be co-moderated by Aaron Rosen, President & Founder, World Affairs Council of Miami; and Kristina Rosales, Board Member, World Affairs Council of Miami.
The United States and Panama share a unique relationship shaped by history, commerce, and security, enriched by a vibrant Panamanian-American community and epitomized by the Panama Canal, which serves as a critical artery for global trade. In today’s geopolitical environment, Panama also features prominently in U.S.–China competition, as Washington and its partners seek to counter Beijing’s growing footprint in Latin America, creating opportunities and challenges for Panama and the wider region.
Join to hear from Ambassador Cabrera on the future of U.S.–Panama relations, the strategic importance of the Canal, and how Washington and Panama are working together to address issues ranging from economic cooperation to regional security. The discussion will also examine how China’s expanding role in Latin America is reshaping regional dynamics and what it means for U.S. policy and the broader future of the Americas.
Register now to secure your seat for Ambassador Cabrera’s first public program in Miami since his diplomatic appointment. Seating is limited.
Register now. Tickets are complimentary; donations are welcome.
Free guest parking will be available in Bldg. 7 Garage, 500 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL (see below for directions)
11:00am - 11:30am - Registration with light refreshments
11:30am - 12:30pm - A Conversation with Ambassador Cabrera on U.S.-Panama Relations and China's Role in Latin America
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Continued networking to close
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Speaker bio:
- His Excellency Kevin Marino Cabrera was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2025, to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. Ambassador Cabrera is committed to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Panama—promoting regional security, expanding U.S. trade and investment, and deepening cooperation on issues that are vital to our nation’s prosperity and global competitiveness.
As Ambassador, Cabrera is focused on ensuring that the U.S.–Panama relationship reflects the core pillars of American foreign policy under President Trump’s leadership: security, sovereignty, economic growth, and the advancement of freedom while defending American interests.
Ambassador Cabrera brings to his role a distinguished background in public service and leadership in international trade, economic development, and regional cooperation. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Cabrera served as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, where he chaired the committee overseeing Miami International Airport and served as Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade International Trade Consortium. In these roles, he led trade delegations to strategic global partners—including France, South Africa, Japan, the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom, and Ireland— helping to deepen commercial ties, attract investment, and expand U.S. economic engagement abroad.
He also convened the 26th InterAmerican Conference of Mayors and Local Authorities, engaging leaders from over two dozen cities across Latin America and the Caribbean. The forum addressed shared priorities in infrastructure, governance, and regional development.
During his tenure in public office, Ambassador Cabrera championed the modernization of key infrastructure, promoted innovation in public service delivery, and expanded economic opportunity through streamlined governance and strategic investment initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Ambassador Cabrera served in senior political and organizational roles, including as Florida State Director for the Republican National Committee and President Donald J. Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign in Florida, contributing to a commanding electoral victory in one of the nation’s most politically consequential states.
Born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban exile parents, Ambassador Cabrera’s life has been shaped by a deep belief in freedom, self-determination, and the promise of the American Dream. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, cum laude, from Florida International University and graduated with honors from Miami Dade College.
He approaches his mission with a clear purpose: to promote a safer, stronger, and more prosperous United States across the Americas.
Co-Moderator bio:
- Aaron Rosen serves as President and Founder of the World Affairs Council of Miami since 2021. He is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and a 2024 Eisenhower Fellow. Prior to returning home to South Florida, Aaron researched international technology policy and Russian affairs with the Alfa Fellowship Program in Moscow. He previously worked as a Washington, D.C.-based specialist in U.S. foreign policy for MUFG Bank, formerly the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, and completed a graduate fellowship with the European Parliament in Brussels.
Aaron has experience working with various legislative and diplomatic bodies, including the U.S. Congress, German Bundestag, Australian House of Representatives, Canadian House of Commons, Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, Embassy of Mexico in the United States, and the European Parliament Liaison Office to the U.S. Congress.
Aaron earned a dual masters concentrated on U.S. foreign policy and international history from the George Washington University and the London School of Economics, and holds a bachelors in international relations and comparative politics from the University of Central Florida. Aaron was born in Southern California and raised in South Florida. He speaks German, Spanish, and intermediate Russian.
Co-Moderator bio:
- Kristina Rosales Kostrukova is a public-affairs and diplomacy leader with deep experience at the intersection of government, business, and civil society. As Founder and Managing Director of Kairos Public Affairs, she advises organizations on government relations, reputation, and cross-sector partnerships across the Americas and emerging markets.
She has led Government Relations for Latin America at Warner Bros. Discovery, driving high-level engagement with policymakers and regulators throughout the region for brands such as HBOMax, CNN, and Discovery, and served as a Senior Director for Regional Initiatives at Concordia, shaping long-term programming and advancing impactful, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Earlier in her career, Kristina was a U.S. diplomat, including service as the Department of State’s Spanish and Portuguese-language Spokesperson and Director of the Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, as well as postings in Qatar, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, and Washington, D.C.
Kristina holds an M.A. in Latin American Affairs, M.P.H in Global Health from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Studies & Latin American Affairs from the University of Miami. She is a Board Member of the World Affairs Council of Miami. Multilingual in Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, Kristina brings a global, results-oriented perspective to every engagement.
Free guest parking will be available in Bldg. 7 Garage, 500 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Miami Dade College - Wolfson Auditorium, 300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, United States
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