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03 Feb 2025 — 4 min read

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Yesterday, February 2, 2025, Panama‘s President José Raúl Mulino announced that Panama will not renew its 2017 Belt and Road agreement with China after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agreement allowed China to invest in infrastructure projects near the Panama Canal. Mulino also stated that Panama will work to cancel the deal before its scheduled expiration between 2027 and 2028. This decision follows U.S. efforts to limit China’s influence in Latin America and push for the canal’s control to remain with U.S.-aligned interests.

The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, is a critical trade route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Originally built and controlled by the U.S., it was handed over to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which also ensured its neutrality and allowed U.S. intervention if threatened. In recent years, Chinese companies increased investments in ports and infrastructure around the canal, raising U.S. concerns. Now, under the Trump administration, Panama is reversing course, distancing itself from China and bringing the canal back under stronger U.S. influence.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Yesterday, February 2, 2025, the former USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) arrived in Brownsville, Texas, to be dismantled after being towed from the Philadelphia Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility. Commissioned in 1968, it was the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier built for the U.S. Navy, serving until its decommissioning in 2007. Over nearly four decades, it played key roles in military operations like Desert Storm in 1991 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now retired, it will be scrapped for parts, a standard process as the U.S. Navy upgraded to an all-nuclear-powered carrier fleet.

The U.S. Navy currently operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, giving it unmatched global power projection. Unlike conventionally powered carriers, which must refuel regularly, nuclear carriers have unlimited range and can stay deployed indefinitely. In contrast, China does not have any nuclear-powered aircraft carriers—its two active carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, and its newest carrier, Fujian, all rely on conventional propulsion, limiting their operational reach.
France is the only other country with a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, while Russia, India, the UK, and China all rely on conventional propulsion systems. As military technology evolves, more countries will begin integrating nuclear reactors into their aircraft carriers, but for now, U.S. nuclear carrier technology remains at the forefront of military innovation.

Environment & Weather:

Brazil continues to face severe flooding, with São Paulo among the hardest-hit areas. Since late January 2025, heavy rains have overwhelmed infrastructure, flooding streets, sweeping away cars, and leaving over 120,000 people without power. Authorities have issued emergency warnings as river levels rise, with more rain expected.

This flooding is part of a pattern of extreme weather in Brazil and around the world. Aging infrastructure has struggled to handle these increasing storms, leaving urban areas vulnerable. As severe weather events become more frequent, Brazil faces mounting pressure to improve flood management and infrastructure to prevent further devastation.

Space:

Yesterday, February 2nd, 2025, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) successfully launched the Michibiki 6 satellite aboard the H3-22S rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 08:30 UTC. The H3-22S is a variant of Japan’s new H3 rocket, designed to replace the aging H-IIA series. It features two solid rocket boosters and a more efficient first-stage engine, aiming to provide a cost-effective and reliable launch solution for both domestic and commercial payloads. The rocket deployed Michibiki 6 into a geostationary transfer orbit approximately 29 minutes after liftoff.

The payload, Michibiki 6, is part of Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), which enhances geolocation positioning accuracy across Japan. The QZSS supplements traditional GPS, reducing errors in urban and mountainous areas where signals are often obstructed. This satellite will improve navigation for smartphones, autonomous vehicles, maritime operations, and drone guidance. Japan plans to expand the system to seven satellites by 2026 and ultimately to eleven by the late 2030s, ensuring a highly precise, independent positioning network.

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