The USA has labelled the Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement as a terrorist organisation, along with three of its leaders.
The USA is extremely concerned about the rise of far-right groups and their international connections, says terrorism researcher Magnus Ranstorp.
The announcement came on Friday evening from the USA's State Department regarding the terrorist listing.
Magnus Ranstorp, a terrorism researcher at the Defence University, says that the Nordic Resistance Movement has collaborated with far-right groups in the USA, including participating in podcasts with white power organisations.
There were also Nordic Resistance Movement members who travelled to Charlottesville in the USA (where far-right and Nazi groups demonstrated in 2017).
That the Nordic Resistance Movement is now being listed as a terrorist organisation is still somewhat surprising, according to Ranstorp, since the group was more active a few years ago.
The listing will have significant consequences, for example, assets and bank accounts under American jurisdiction can be frozen.
It will be illegal for individuals and organisations in the USA to provide financial support, equipment, and training to this group.
This will have massive consequences for the individuals who are identified, given that the USA has strong economic muscles to deploy.
Magnus Ranstorp also believes that the authorities in Sweden will step up their efforts to disrupt the organisation.
