Former Pentagon contractor Rinaldo Nazzaro, known as the leader of the Base, a neo-Nazi terrorist group, has sparked allegations of being a Russian spy. Nazzaro’s background includes working in drone targeting for the US Special Operations Command before relocating to Russia, where he married, radicalized, and emerged as a figure recruiting Americans for extremist activities. The Guardian’s revelations suggest long-standing suspicions within the Base that Nazzaro collaborated with Russia’s FSB intelligence service.

These developments align with the Kremlin’s strategy of leveraging far-right and criminal organizations globally to destabilize western democracies. Colin Clarke, a geopolitics expert, highlights Russia’s use of far-right terror groups as assets for disruptive actions, especially following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin’s tactics include funding far-right parties, disseminating disinformation, and providing paramilitary training to extremists in various countries.

While direct evidence of Kremlin-backed actions via far-right groups in the US is limited, suspicions persist. Scott Payne, a former FBI agent who infiltrated the Base, raises concerns about Nazzaro’s ties to Russian handlers, citing unusual financial transactions and a move to St. Petersburg. Nazzaro denies allegations of being a Russian agent, but recent events, such as the Base’s Ukrainian cell offering money for violent operations, fuel suspicions of his ties to Russia.

Analysts anticipate that Russia’s engagement with far-right groups globally extends beyond Nazzaro, reflecting a broader strategy of cultivating relationships for future use. The unfolding saga underscores the intricate web of geopolitical intrigue and the potential implications of state-sponsored terrorism intertwined with extremist movements.