The US State Department has designated the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), a transnational neo-Nazi organization, and three of its top officials as terrorists. This marks the second time in history that the US has labeled a foreign White supremacist group and its leaders as terrorists.
The NRM, founded in Sweden in 1997, has branches in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. The group was banned in Finland in 2020. The State Department cited NRM for its involvement in acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals and the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.
According to the State Department, NRM's violent activities are rooted in its openly racist, anti-immigrant, antisemitic, and anti-LGBTQI+ platform. The group has carried out violent attacks against political opponents, protestors, journalists, and others. NRM members have also engaged in collecting weapons and explosive materials and organizing training in violent tactics.
The designation of NRM comes amidst ongoing concerns about the threat posed by White supremacist terror groups both domestically and internationally. The US Intelligence Community's 2024 Annual Threat Assessment highlighted the continued risk of violence from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, particularly those motivated by white supremacy.
The State Department's move to designate NRM as terrorists is part of a broader effort to address the transnational threat posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to countering domestic terrorism, including the activities of such extremist groups.
In response to the designation, NRM members will be denied access to the US financial system, making it more challenging for them to move money internationally and fund their efforts. The State Department emphasized the increasing transnational linkages among extremist groups and the use of online platforms for recruitment and radicalization.
Overall, the designation of NRM as a terrorist organization reflects the US government's efforts to combat the threat posed by White supremacist groups and underscores the importance of addressing domestic terrorism and violent extremism.
