A key Pentagon drone and surveillance base in sub-Saharan Africa faces an uncertain future, with Niger‘s ruling junta saying the U.S. military presence is no longer welcome.

U.S. relations with Niger have been tense since the junta seized power last year in a takeover that followed a wave of coups in Africa that some analysts say reflect a widening Cold War-style jockeying for influence on the continent with China and Russia. The Biden administration condemned the Niger coup, but has tried to establish relations with the junta.

However, a visit last week by Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee and Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, the head of the Pentagon‘s African command, appeared to spark a new crisis. A junta spokesman said immediately after the visit that the military cooperation agreement with the U.S. is no longer in force. 

There were about 650 U.S. troops in Niger at the end of 2023. They operate a major air base near the city of Agadez, used for both crewed and drone surveillance flights. Pentagon Correspondent Mike Glenn reported in 2019 that Niger, then under a democratically elected president, was emerging as a center for U.S. drone missions to battle jihadist groups linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda that had secured a foothold in the region.

The Chinese government is taking steps to regulate the field of generative artificial intelligence, pushing rules to label and restrict information created by the powerful new technological tool. The Cyberspace Administration, controlled by the ruling Communist Party, says enforcement will include clear indications marking AI-generated content, policing internet news and information produced without approval, and a fresh crackdown on information the regulators determine to be false.

National Security Tech Reporter Ryan Lovelace notes that China’s move reveals how Beijing shares many concerns the Biden administration and U.S. lawmakers have voiced about AI and the spread of misinformation and deceptive content. Both countries, as well as the European Union, are struggling to find a balance between encouraging AI’s positive aspects and curbing abuses and problems.

The House Oversight and Accountability Committee is investigating what lawmakers say is a Chinese “political warfare” campaign against the entire American system. National Security Correspondent Bill Gertz reports that the new formal GOP-led probe is focusing initially on nine federal agencies and whether Chinese agents and supporters have infiltrated or influenced their policies and operations.

“Without firing a single bullet, the Chinese Communist Party is waging war against the U.S. by targeting, influencing and infiltrating every economic sector and community in America,” according to Committee Chairman James Comer, who says the panel “has a responsibility to ensure the federal government is taking every action necessary to protect Americans from the CCP’s ongoing political warfare.”

Mr. Gertz discusses the House investigation in the latest episode of his “Victory of Communism” podcast.

Unauthorized migrants are being sold access to the Biden administration’s “parole” program for as little as $5,000 in Nicaragua — one of four countries covered by what has come to be known as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’s CHNV program providing special processing treatment for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

The Times’ Stephen Dinan reports that scammers are charging would-be migrants $1,000 upfront for contact with an American willing to fill out forms promising financial support. Once the Department of Homeland Security approves the sponsor, the migrants pay the other $4,000 to the scammers and head to the United States.

The government is spying on Americans without lifting a finger, warns a commentary by The Washington Times Editorial Board that outlines how federal law enforcement agencies snoop in comfort by asking private companies to supply details on individual Americans’ habits, beliefs and preferences in exchange for taxpayer cash. 

“Google last year responded to more than 2,000 warrantless requests for information from government entities through national security demand letters,” the board writes. “The Silicon Valley search giant also responded to 164,350 requests pursuant to some kind of legal authority, charging up to $245 per occurrence, raking in millions in extra cash.” The commentary also notes how Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, released documents earlier this year confirming that the National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency have been gobbling up as much “commercially acquired” private data as they can.