An international neo-Nazi terrorist organization, which originated in the United States, is reportedly rapidly rebuilding its global and domestic ranks, as per information obtained by The Guardian from the group’s digital accounts. Established in 2018, The Base has been the focus of an ongoing FBI counter-terrorism investigation that has led to the arrest of over a dozen of its members. It has been responsible for plotting assassinations, mass shootings, and other violent actions in Europe, which resulted in its designation as a terrorist organization in several nations.
Although it seemed to have dissolved by 2022, the group’s founder and leader, Rinaldo Nazzaro, a former US special forces contractor residing in Russia, has been using the security offered by Russian apps to recruit and reorganize, particularly leading up to the November election. At one point, he even offered ex-American soldiers a monthly stipend of $1,200 for paramilitary training in the Pacific Northwest.
The Base’s resurgence coincides with the Trump administration’s policy shift away from monitoring far-right extremism, including the appointment of Kash Patel, a MAGA loyalist, to head the FBI. Experts warn that this easing of federal law enforcement’s focus on far-right groups like The Base could leave Americans more vulnerable to domestic terror threats. Despite this, The Base is continuing to grow, with new media posts showcasing its members in the United States and across Europe armed with pistols and military-style rifles, and wearing the trademark skull masks of the accelerationist neo-Nazi movement.
Recent arrests of suspected members in the Netherlands and Italy on terrorism charges underscore the legitimacy of these multimedia posts. Membership in The Base carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison in the UK, where it has been banned since July 2021. Analysts from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue have noticed the group’s increased activity online, particularly its shift in focus towards the US.
The timing of this shift is significant, as neo-Nazi accelerationist groups, like The Base, which have been under pressure from law enforcement, might see this as an opportunity with the change in the US administration. In response to Trump’s inauguration, The Base released a photo of its largest number of American members in one frame in over a year, two of whom were holding guns, and solicited donations for weapons and ammunition.
The FBI has not commented on whether it will prioritize investigations into The Base or other far-right extremists. Both Trump and Patel have announced “major, major” bureau reforms, suggesting that combating far-right extremism may not be a high priority. The Base has released a new oath for American members, which includes the requirement of owning an AR-15 rifle and 30-round magazines of ammunition.
Terrorism expert Colin Clarke believes that far-right groups, such as The Base, have been waiting for the right opportunity to strengthen their organizations. The Base’s leader, Nazzaro, denies any connections to Russian intelligence, despite living in Saint Petersburg, and having worked with US special forces.
However, Clarke is skeptical, positing that Nazzaro’s presence in Russia means Russian intelligence services could exert influence on The Base, potentially orchestrating some of the group’s activities. Western intelligence agencies have been cautioning that the Kremlin is attempting to destabilize NATO states by supporting far-right organizations in Europe.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/24/neo-nazi-trump-fbi-chief
