The Base is a neo-Nazi terrorist organization best known for its violent white supremacist ideology and international operations. After a recent string of arrests across Spain, that group is now under increased attention. Rinaldo Nazzaro, the American-born leader of The Base, is believed to be residing in St. Petersburg, Russia. Right now, he’s there with his family. Just this week, the group garnered headlines by taking responsibility for a gun assassination of a Ukrainian officer in Kyiv. They are connected to a range of other terrorism across Ukraine.
The Base has also aggressively put financial bounties on the heads of Ukrainian military and political leaders to be assassinated. As many observers noted, it was an undisguised effort to work in concert with Kremlin interests. This duplicitous pattern of behavior is a strong signal of a growing European presence. According to new allegations, Kremlin operatives have been coordinating sabotage missions across countries that back Ukraine.
Nazzaro has been accused for years of being a Russian intelligence asset. Security specialists have alleged that The Base may have connections to Kremlin intelligence services. These ties merit scrutiny given the group’s alleged involvement in Russia’s ongoing sabotage campaign.
Recent activities by The Base have gained attention through its Spanish cell, which maintained a public Telegram channel that showcased weapons training and urged militant action against perceived enemies. The organization promotes this “calculated ruthlessness,” and demands the seizure of land to create safe, white enclaves.
The leadership of the Spanish cell, for example, was apparently in direct contact with Nazzaro, which serves, again, to underscore the extent of his control over operations in Europe. Law enforcement agencies should be extremely wary of these new developments, especially considering the group’s violent history of plotting and planning.
“These behaviors echo the group’s earlier era between 2019 and 2020, when various members planned serious acts of violence before being arrested.” – Steven Rai
Have the FBI take its focus off of these groups, like The Base. Today, it targets political opponents and anti-fascist activists. This change in priorities may have contributed to the group’s ability to operate more freely, culminating in the recent arrests of three suspected members by Spanish police and Europol’s counter-terrorism section in Castellón.
Joshua Fisher-Birch is a specialist on extremist groups. He had a particular fear that The Base may have connections with Russian sabotage operations throughout Europe.
“The potential ties to Russian sabotage operations in Europe, whether or not the cell members were aware of it, are also incredibly concerning.” – Joshua Fisher-Birch
Despite Nazzaro’s denials of any connections to Russian intelligence, stating he has “never had any contact with any Russian security services,” the evidence suggests otherwise. The Base’s Spanish cell appears to be acting independently while still aligning with Nazzaro’s directives.
The Base’s—despite its militant romanticism—efficiently coordinated efforts are a serious threat to regional stability. They further reflect a disturbing trend, that extremist ideologies are on the rise throughout Europe.
“It is important that law enforcement agencies, platforms, and other stakeholders remain vigilant about the broader threat posed by The Base’s underlying ideology and the online ecosystem which has crystallized around it.” – Steven Rai
The group’s rhetoric is increasingly aggressive. In one message, they asserted:
“Your liberties aren’t dying, they’re being killed by people with names and addresses.” – The Base
This declaration is indicative of the organization’s refusal to shy away from extremist violence in order to see their aims realized.
Their ideology produces admirers of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. He is now well known for his string of bombings that deliberately targeted societal elites. The Base’s celebration of Kaczynski reveals their green terror bent, willingness to use violence to achieve revolutionary political goals.
The Spanish cell’s actions strike many familiar patterns that we’ve observed in other areas where The Base has a presence. That shows us a troubling, concerted, and planned effort to increase their power and reach across national borders.
“What stands out about the Spanish case is how closely it mirrors the patterns we have observed elsewhere.” – Steven Rai
As investigations proceed into The Base’s domestic activities and international affiliations, federal authorities are on the spot to respond appropriately. Their capacity to recruit and mobilize new members across all corners of Europe continues to be an acute law enforcement challenge.