Rinaldo Nazzaro, the U.S.-based leader of the transnational far-right group The Base, is currently under a microscope. Allegations have emerged about his likely ties to Russian FSB, the successor to Moscow’s KGB. His deep and broad experience running the US Special Operations Command in Iraq and Afghanistan raises eyebrows. People remain curious about his ongoing activities and association with the movement. Nazzaro, as you may know, has a controversial legacy. His infamous 2020 interview on Russian state television raised questions as to whether he was a part of a bigger plan to demolish Western democracies.
Nazzaro, who previously served in drone targeting for the US military. This background brings some more concerning context to his present role as leader of The Base. This group has been making a lot of news lately. They revealed a Ukrainian cell that may be providing cash rewards to operatives for filling politicians or police or military personnel in Ukraine. Those actions have set off the warning bells even inside his own organization. They’ve begun to raise the eyebrows of federal authorities — including the FBI.
Concerns about Nazzaro’s personal affiliations grew more urgent in the summer of 2020. He was interviewed on Russian state television and there denied any ties to the Russian government. His denial didn’t stop the rumors from making people suspicious of him. Indeed, allegations have surfaced that not only has he been taking money from Russian sources, but it’s added to the confusion of his narrative. He has repeatedly denied any claim that he has some shadowy deep state funders.
Nazzaro, who lives in St. Petersburg. This particular venue gives added force to the attention focused on his activities and potential connections to Russian influence. Some theories posit that he is acting in concert with the Wagner Group. This shadowy paramilitary organization, of which the members are meant to have no direct and viable links with the Kremlin. In a Telegram statement released in late April, Nazzaro asserted, “I have never had contact with Russian security services,” yet many remain unconvinced given the nature of his activities.
The Base’s connections to the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), a terror organization recently designated globally by the U.S. government, only adds to this murkiness. The Kremlin has a documented history of providing paramilitary training to far-right extremists outside their countries and then deploying them back home. This modus operandi mirrors the accusations lodged against Nazzaro and his alleged schemes. That last detail raises the specter of a joint plot to undermine democratic institutions across the West.
Impeachment investigations into Nazzaro are still continuing. Authorities are particularly investigating whether he is laundering money to extremist political parties in Europe’s radical right. These steps might indicate a possible, wider strategy from the Kremlin to use extremist groups in pursuit of its geopolitical aims. This tactic plays into Russia’s larger strategy. It seeks to take advantage of conflicts in Western societies by supporting extremist groups that foment disorder and disrupt democratic institutions.