The Base, a violent neo-Nazi terror group, has significantly increased their operations in the U.S. They are taking advantage of what they perceive as a reduction in the FBI’s counter-terrorism efforts. Led by R. William “Ragnar” Nazzaro, the group has established cells in various regions, including the Appalachian area, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. The FBI had previously arrested the group’s protectors to dismantle the group. The return occurs notwithstanding their work and the group’s vastly outsized influence before 2020.
The Base has stretched its net internationally. FARC It currently has members in Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom, and the European Union regards it as a terrorist organization. The agency works closely with Ukraine and has formed an on-the-ground cell in Ukraine. Nazzaro specifically points towards this cell as a textbook case of active insurgency. The geographic expansion raises questions about The Base’s capacity to draw recruits from less settled geographies. Nazzaro believes that if there is enough chaos in Canada or the EU it may provide a perfect storm of conditions to attract new members.
Nazzaro’s dreams for The Base are overtly lethal. From there the organization hopes to incite a broader armed insurgency that will bring down the US government. To them, it’s the heart of their operations — the nerve center. Recent inflammatory communications from Nazzaro have only exacerbated these threats. Terrorism researcher Steven Rai, who studies anti-immigrant extremist groups, warns that Nazzaro’s latest outbursts represent a disturbing new level of escalation. This dangerous trend isn’t new—it’s been building for months. Nazzaro is not the first American to openly call for violence against Americans. He went on to outline the need to create “acceleration teams” to destabilize society by destroying key infrastructure.
The Base is currently seeking to expand its membership through recruitment by a Russia-hosted email address. This is an indication that the reach of their influence has persisted despite the FBI’s 2020 crackdown. This desperate recruitment continues even in the face of great arrests among the collective. Patrik Matthews, The Base’s former Canadian cell leader, now rots in a US prison. He was sentenced to prison for conspiring to execute a terrorist attack targeting a gun rights rally in Virginia. His arrest marked a pivotal moment in the FBI’s efforts against The Base, but it does not appear to have hindered the group’s overall momentum.
Nazzaro has spelled out in detail a long-term strategic vision that harkens back to the roots of previous extremist movements. He stated, “Our long-term strategic goal is to accomplish something similar to what al-Qaida and IS accomplished in Syria.” This lofty aspiration underscores the seriousness of purpose among this assemblage to foster a disciplined and combative fifth column. They seek to conquer and hold ground in their efforts to ultimately realize and one day rule over a white homeland.
The meaning behind Nazzaro’s recent statements is huge. He delivers consistently and clearly strategic direction centered on violence to his operatives in the United States. This move risks unintentionally bringing The Base’s activities to the attention of law enforcement. Rai elaborates on this concern: “By providing Base operatives in the United States with explicit strategic guidance centered around violence, Nazzaro may have inadvertently increased the group’s exposure to intervention by law enforcement.”
Yet the situation around The Base offers US authorities a dual and more complicated challenge. As it functions, infiltrates, and recruits, the network remains a major threat here at home while presenting an enduring threat overseas. The Base’s ambitions go far beyond US borders. With their leadership encouraging and even organizing violent acts, they have become the top threat to counter-terrorism in the U.S.